EMA Policy

1.  What is an EMA ?
EMA stands for Education Maintenance Allowance.  It is payment of up to £30 per week, paid directly into the students’ bank account every week, in term-time only, to help with cost of continuing with their education.  In addition, eligible students may receive bonus payments of £100 up to twice times a year, if they continue with their education and meet objectives of their course.

2.  Eligibility Criteria
i. Students aged 16, 17, or 18 on 31st August 2009
ii. Students who live in a household that has an annual income of £30,810 or less per year.
iii. Students who intend to take an eligible full-time course with a minimum of 12 guided hours per week.
iv. Students must hold UK nationality.

3.  How much will students receive ?
The weekly payment is means-tested that is, EMA decide how much a student will receive by looking at the annual income of their household:

Household income below £20,817 -
Entitled to £30 per week.

Household income between £20,818 and £25,521
Entitled to £20 per week.

Household income between £25,522 and £30,810
Entitled to £10 per week.

IF THE HOUSEHOLD INCOME IS OVER £30,810
STUDENTS ARE NOT ENTITLED TO AN EMA

4.  Bonus Payments
i. Bonus payments are affected by the way a student progresses and performs at college.
ii. Bonus payments are based on the performance standards agreed between the student and the college in the way of individual objectives.
iii. Bonus payments are set payments of £100, paid in January and July.

5.  Application Procedures
i. Students need to complete an application form; they will also need to ask their parents/guardians to complete their section of the application form.

ii. Photocopies of documents that support personal and financial details will be required with the application form.

iii. Applications cannot be assessed without supporting documents.

Application forms to be returned to EMA

EMA will send an acknowledgement letter to students when the application form is received.  Acknowledgement letters will only be sent out during the peak periods i.e. August and September.

i. EMA will check the application form is completed correctly and asses the application.

ii. All Students will be notified of the decision by post.

iii. Students who have been awarded an EMA will receive a ‘Notice of Entitlement’ letter advising them of their level of award i.e.:- £10  £20  £30

iv. If an application has been declined students will receive a letter advising them of the decision.

2nd Year Students
If a student was awarded EMA in the previous academic year they will be sent a ‘Renewal Form’ to their home address.

A new application form is not required for previous applicants.

6.  Late Applications
Applications received by 31st October will be backdated to the start of term and all eligible payments will be made.

Applications received after 31st October will be paid from the first full week after receipt of the application.

Closing date for all applications is 31st March.

7.  Procedures for Payments
i)   Students must complete a EMA Agreement with Student Information in order to receive their allowance, without a EMA Agreement no payment will be actioned

ii)  It is the students’ responsibility to check their attendance report on MyAquinas to ensure accuracy.
 
iii)  Inaccuracy may result in their EMA payment being withdrawn for that week.

8. Absences
i) If a student is off sick for a full week, no payment will be made.

ii) 4 Absences due to medical or illness or a combination of both, on separate occasions with a half term will lead to loss of EMA payments within that week, similarly 4 late marks will lead to loss of EMA payment.

9. Authorised Absences
i) Where an absence can be foreseen, it is expected that the student will notify the College in advance.

ii) Where an absence is unforeseen the student must notify the College, preferably before 9.30am, supported by a phone call from a parent or guardian.

iii) If a student needs to leave college part way through the day the student must notify Student Information and this must be verified by a phone call from a parent or guardian.

9.  Payment Dates
i. Attendance is recorded on a weekly basis EMA payments are paid week one week in arrears into the students’ bank account

ii. All discrepancies relating to EMA payments to be raised with Student Information within 10 working days of receipt of payment or non payment.

iii. If a student has been marked absent in error they should take a copy of their timetable to the subject tutor and ask them to amend the register, when this has been completed the student must inform Student Information payment will then be made and the student will receive the payment on the next payment date

Procedures for EMA