EMA

If your parents own a private company, they apparently don't have to declare it. Was very irritating watching the richer pupils still claiming the allowance.
 
EMA is there to try and persuade kids into going on to further education. If they are at college they are not on Job Seekers Allowance which is about £45 a week for "looking" for a job.

It may be a "shambles", but what isn't?

When you are actually part of the system you understand that there will always be people that cheat and their will be people that actually use it for the right reasons. In the end though, helping some people and giving money to people who don't deserve it is better than helping no one.

I'm currently getting ALG. Which is like EMA apart from I don't get bonuses and it's measured from what I earn rather than my parents (over 18+). Because I forget to sign in one lesson a week I never get it. I'm currently having problems at college because I don't want to go back full time next year. Reasons being because I can't afford it and I want to get a job. They just argue with me that they can help me out with money. That's fine on some things but I prefer to earn my money than leach of people the rest of my life. (They can't seem to understand this) Plus can they pay for me to take out a girl to a swanky restaurant? Not that it would happen but I'm sure you get my drift.

It's annoying being treated like the other 17 year olds. They can't seem to grasp that just because I am at college it doesn't mean I don't have a social life and things to pay for.
 
The Craig said:
I dont understand the point of EMA, just because your parents earn >40k doesn't mean you get given £30 a week, I suppose it's required if you have to buy all your own clothes etc but I know few people who use it as its intented. (/grumbles about not getting free moneys...)


What do you get for £4/£2?
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Morning, bottle of Lucozade Sport and usually two croissants.

Lunch, Orange juice and a meal of some description. The meals are usually £2.50. And a can of Red Bull for later.

I buy energy drinks cause I get 5 hours sleep maximum from working late nights.
 
Energize said:
Since when did you have to buy books for school anyway?
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Not one for 6th form, well text books anyway, they were given out by departments along with handouts. I think film asked for £1/£2 at the start of each year towards the cost of printouts.

Whilst I did get EMA is it kind of pointless from what i've seen (yes, from what i've seen, if you've seen different, then good for you). I needed money for what bus fare and some food, though if I were to be strict I could have made all my food at home.
 
Tefal said:
generraly though does mean your parents will be able to afford any school equipment you need.
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True enough, though I've yet to hear of anyone spending the money on school equipment :'( Although ema does need to be there for those who do use it for that kind of purpose.
 
skippi90 said:
Haha. I didn't say I haven't got a job. I work part time in my local Bar. I was simply saying that for those who have to rely on the £30 and buy lunch from the canteen, it's a tight stretch.
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So how did they get fed before they were in receipt of EMA ???:rolleyes:
 
Psypher5 said:
if you have a job and your rents earn 30+ k then surely you can afford a few books :/
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I think the point is that parental income shouldn't be the be-all and end-all for people over the age of 16. When I was doing A-levels I didn't get much in the way of financial assistance towards studies from my dad at all.... £30 a term maybe certainly not £30 a week.
 
Hit quote by mistake so may as well type something else... ho hum....

I think a better system (note: not necessarily a good one, just better....) would be if you were given an allowance which could ONLY be spent on certain items, e.g. books from a specific source, bus pass for school/college etc
 
Imo everyone in the uk should be given a benefit card which can will only allow benefits to be spent on certain items. Would stop the benefit system being abused as much. Every week the card would be topped upto a certain amount, previously held money not rolling over. Resulting in much lower government spending, everyone wins.
 
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poopots said:
Wait untill you get to uni and you only have the basic loan to live off. I have about £10 to last me till the end of the term.
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That's the point though, they won't just be living off that.
They'll have been stashing £30/week into ISAs for the last 2 years during term time :)
 
Energize said:
Imo everyone in the uk should be given a benefit card which can will only allow benefits to be spent on certain items. Would stop the benefit system being abused as much. Every week the card would be topped upto a certain amount, previously held money not rolling over. Resulting in much lower government spending, everyone wins.
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Like an ID card /runs for the hills ;)
 
Some kids at my school get EMA. The two that I know of that get it live with their mum, who earns less than £30k, and their dad pays the £9k a year school fees, and presumeably helps them with other stuff. I see this as a bit of a joke.
 
a friend of mine saved hers over the 2 years. in the end she apparently had about 2000 pounds.. handy for uni.

my sister got 11 pounds a week
a year later my mum got promoted and i got 0
 
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