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EMA: how much could you get?

Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) comes in weekly payments of £10, £20 or £30 which go directly into your bank account.

However, you will only get your money if you regularly attend and work hard on your course. 

If you're eligible for EMA, the amount you receive is calculated by looking at your household income. It isn’t affected by any money you earn from part-time work, and won’t make any difference to any benefits your parents get.

On top of your weekly amount you can also receive bonuses – but only if you do well and meet the targets set by your teacher, tutor or provider.

So, are you eligible for EMA?

Let’s keep things nice and simple. If you’re not already getting EMA, just check the list below. If the age, course and income descriptions apply to you, you’re likely to be eligible.

Your age

First of all you need to be 16, 17 or 18 and have left – or be about to leave – compulsory education.

Your course

You need to be enrolled on a course in England which is one of the following:

• a full-time further education course at a college or school
• an LSC-funded Diploma (where available) or a course that leads to an Apprenticeship
• an LSC-funded Entry to Employment (e2e) course (if you're on an e2e course, you’ll get the maximum £30 weekly EMA payment regardless of your household income)

Your household income

To qualify for EMA in the academic year starting September 2009, your annual household income must be below £30,810 (for tax year 2008-09).

And there’s good news if you have a part-time job – any money you earn isn’t included in your overall household income.

Already getting EMA?

If you’re already receiving EMA and want to continue your course, you may be automatically eligible for the same payments during 2009/10 – even if your household income has increased.

See ‘Apply for EMA’ to find out whether you can get automatic payments under the ‘EMA guarantee’

Apply for EMA

Like the sound of what you've read? It's simple to apply for EMA.

• Apply for EMA

Does EMA affect other benefits?

No, EMA does not affect any other household benefits. So your parents and carers are still free to keep claiming child benefit, tax credits and so on.

If you have children, you may be able to apply for Care to Learn as well as EMA - meaning you could get extra help with childcare costs.

• Care to Learn

Information for parents and carers

If you’re a parent or carer, find out more by following the link below.

• EMA: the facts for parents and carers (parents section)

EMA in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales

Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales have separate EMA schemes. You’ll need to apply to the EMA scheme for the country you intend to study in.

• EMA in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales