1. What is an EMA?  The Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) is a means tested weekly payment of £30 paid directly to young people (age 16-19) who have reached school leaving age and are continuing in post-compulsory education.

2. Who is eligible?  EMAs are available during this academic year to eligible 16–19 year olds (if you were born between 1 March 1994 and 28 February 1998).  You must attend school for a minimum of 21 hours per week and meet certain terms and conditions (e.g. good attendance, punctuality & conduct).  You must have your own bank account.

3. Who is eligible? (continued)  Eligibility is assessed on gross taxable household income for the period April 2012 to March 2013. The income thresholds are:  up to £20,351 (one dependent child)  up to £22,403 (two or more dependent children). (Dependent children are those up to the age of 16, or up to the age of 25 if they are in full-time education and training).

4. What is a Learning Agreement?  A Learning Agreement sets out the course of your studies during the academic year. It outlines the conditions you need to meet (attendance, punctuality, conduct and achievement requirements).  You must undertake and maintain a minimum of 21 hours guided learning per week.  It must be signed by the pupil, parent or responsible adult and school representative.

5. Learning Agreement (continued)  Your Learning Agreement will be monitored and reviewed by the school. Attendance reports for each pupil are submitted to East Lothian Council prior to payments being made.  If you don’t comply with your Learning Agreement, East Lothian Council may stop your EMA payments.

6. How and When do I apply?  If you are 16 before 30 September 2013, you may be eligible from the beginning of the school term (21 August 2013).  An Application Form will be sent to your home address in June/July and must be submitted by 30 September 2013.

7. How and When do I apply (cont’d)?  If you are 16 between 1 October 2013 and 28 February 2014 you may be eligible from January 2014.  An Application Form will be sent to your home address in October/November. It must be submitted by 28 February 2014.

8. What if I miss the deadline?  If you miss the deadlines for submission, the award will not be backdated to the start of term and will only be made from the week the Application Form is received.  The cut-off date for processing applications for the academic year 2013/14 is 31 March 2014.