Education Maintenance Allowance

Are you aged between 16 and 18 and considering remaining in education? If so, you may be entitled to an Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA).

An EMA is a weekly payment of £30 paid directly to eligible young people who are continuing in post-compulsory education (i.e. beyond the age of 16):

• if you are still at school, the payment is made by the Council
• if you are at college, the payment is made by your college

Students who received EMA before academic year 2009/10 may be eligible for payments of £10, £20 or £30.

Who is entitled to an EMA?

Any young person aged between 16 and 18 who was 16 or older before 30 September 2010 and planning to continue in post-compulsory education may be eligible for an EMA from the beginning of the school year.

Please be aware that Scottish Ministers plan to review the EMA programme in December 2010.  Any award made will only be guaranteed up to the end of December 2010.

Should the scheme continue following the review, applicants aged 16 between 1 October 2010 and 28 February 2011 may be eligible to receive EMA from January 2011.

There are certain nationality and residence requirements and the award is based upon the household income (for new applicants if your household income exceeds £22403, you will not be eligible for an EMA).

In order to retain their EMA, successful applicants must attend a school within the East Lothian Council area for a minimum of 21 guided learning hours per week and must complete a Learning Agreement.

What is a Learning Agreement?

Your Learning Agreement sets out the course of your studies during the academic year. It also outlines the conditions you will need to meet (e.g. maintaining a 100% attendance record at school).

If you don't comply with your Learning Agreement, East Lothian Council (if you are at school) or your college may stop your EMA payments.

If you are at school, your Learning Agreement must be signed by your parent or a responsible adult and by the school you are studying at.

If you are studying at college full time, you don't need your parent's signature.

You need to complete a new Learning Agreement for each academic year.