Written - Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA)

Several Members have contacted me recently to enquire about the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) scheme and to express concern about delays in paying some students.

I can confirm that there have been delays in processing a number of applications and that the speed with which applications have been handled is not up to the standard of previous years.

I can also confirm that the backlog of applications awaiting processing was cleared on 26th November.

The general delays that have occurred this year have been as a result of new processes that the scheme’s administrators, the Student Loans Company (SLC) have introduced which require applicants to submit original documents when providing evidence in support of their applications.  These new requirements were introduced to strengthen anti-fraud measures and to comply with Crown Copyright rules that prohibit the copying of Crown documents such as passports and birth certificates. 

The additional time taken to deal with original documentation (as opposed to copies), which have to be handled in secure premises and by a restricted number of staff, combined with a large number of applications being submitted after term had started, resulted in some delays.

Whilst the SLC have brought in additional resources to clear backlogs, I have sought assurances that measures will be put in place to ensure that the handling of original documents will be managed much more effectively in future years and to avoid a repetition of this year’s problem.

The delays experienced by some EMA-Wales students are in no way linked to, and have been significantly less severe than, problems experienced in England which resulted in the Learning and Skills Council terminating the EMA contract with their delivery agent.  The EMA-Wales Helpline has had to deal with a significant increase in telephone calls as students from England have been mistakenly calling the EMA-Wales line to enquire about their delayed payments.

Where EMA applications have been approved, students will receive an award letter posted immediately. Once the student’s school or college, using the intranet-based system, confirms that the student has a learning agreement and the appropriate attendance record, payment will commence and, where appropriate, backdated.  Payment runs occur fortnightly.  I hope this will ensure that a robust and effective scheme is now operational.