Education Maintenance Allowance

In Wales they will continue but are changing from September 2011.

New Students

If you have never had an Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) before you may be eligible for a £30 Education Maintenance Allowance if you are aged 16, 17 or 18 years old on 31 August 2011 and are continuing to study full time or at least 12 hours per week in college.

• If you are the only young person in full time education in your household and your household income is £20,817 or less, then you could receive £30 weekly;
• If there are other young people in your household who are under 16 and are eligible for Child Benefit and your household income is less than £23,077 then you could receive £30 weekly;
• If there are other young people in your household who are aged 16-20, in full time education and are eligible for Child Benefit and your household income is less than £23,077 then you could receive £30 weekly

Application forms for the Academic Year starting in September 2011 will be available in the New Year.  When they are available you can download an application form and guidance notes from Student Finance Wales website or you can pick up an application pack from your school or college.

Bonus Payments

Performance bonus payments are being removed from the end of academic year 2010/2011.  The last bonus payments made to any students will be those who are confirmed by their schools or colleges in July 2011. No further bonus payments will be made to any student in academic year 2011/2012

Returning Students

If you have already received an Education Maintenance Allowance of £10, £20 or £30 in Academic Year 2010/2011 and you are remaining in education and meet the scheme rules, you will continue to get your Allowance from September 2011. This is known as “transitional protection”.

To be transitionally protected and to continue to receive your Education Maintenance Allowance you must have met the following rules in academic year 2010/2011:

• You had an approved application last year;
• You signed your learning agreements last year;
• You received at least one Education Maintenance Allowance payment last year;
• You have not been rejected because you didn’t respond to our sample check process;
• You are still eligible personallyAge – 16, 17 or 18 on 31st August 2011;
• Your household income is still less than £32,400;
• You have not already had 3 years worth of EMA before;
• You are still attending a valid course and studying at least 12 hours per week.

For further information regarding important changes to the 'Education Maintenance Allowance', please view the Student Finance Wales website.