FAQs: General

Q. What does EMA mean for providers?
 
A. Providers have an important role in making sure young people are aware of EMA and encouraging them to take up the allowance. Awareness of EMA should form part of the careers education and guidance programme for young people up to Year 11.

Providers are required to notify the Assessment and Payment Body every week about the decision whether to pay or not to pay for each EMA-entitled learner. Attendance and monitoring systems need to be sufficiently robust to show that the authority to pay EMA is based on a satisfactory attendance record.

Providers should keep evidence to support EMA payment decisions. They will need to have a simple appeals process for learners who wish to challenge the reason for stoppages of their weekly payments or bonuses.
 
Q. What types of course are eligible?
 
A. EMA is available to any eligible learner who is enrolled on a valid learning programme. This includes a wide range of academic and vocational courses up to and including Level 3. EMA is not available to any learners in higher education.
 
Q. For how long can a learner get EMA support?
 
A. Most young people will need EMA support for two years. However, some young people may need three years' support to help them achieve the maximum of which they are capable. This is still dependent on their meeting other eligibility conditions for each year.
 
Q. Is there definitive DfES guidance on what constitutes an authorised absence (e.g. study leave, religious holidays and dentist appointments) - and how many days absence is acceptable?
 
A. This is a local LSC decision. Please contact your local Partnership Manager.
 
Q. Who will audit providers and when? What will providers need to provide for audit purposes?
 
A. The EMA process will be audited as part of the standard inspection procedure. Providers will need to keep attendance data and reasons for authorised/unauthorised absences and other information in a suitable format for a minimum of six years.
 
Q. What other financial support is available for 16 to 19-year-olds who stay on in learning?

A. Research shows that financial constraints can be amongst the most important issues for young people seeking to access and achieve in learning. The government has put together the most comprehensive package of support to date to encourage all young people to pursue their learning with financial support to help them to overcome financial constraints. This will be supported by a range of entitlements, discretionary support and incentives by way of the Education Maintenance Allowance, Learner Support Fund (LSF) and fee remission. These provide a range of general and targeted funding to meet costs and provide an incentive to learn.

LSF is available to learners who are experiencing financial hardship. Unlike EMA, this is not a weekly allowance but it does provide financial help via a system of one-off payments for learners with particular needs, which can include travel to and from their learning provider. Funds are held locally and allocated on a discretionary basis. Any learner may apply for LSF support via their Local Authority if they are at a school sixth-form, or via their college.

The LSC has put in place a Hardship Fund for young people on LSC-funded E2E programmes or Programme Led Pathways.  This replicates the Learner Support Fund available to FE learners.  Further information can be found in the 2006/07 Guidance for providers of E2E/Programme Led Pathways.

Q. How long will it take for an application form to be processed?

A. If you send us your application form we will normally write to you within two weeks telling you whether you are entitled to EMA (allowing time for your application to arrive). If your application form is wrong we will tell you what is wrong with it. If you have sent us your application form and not heard within two weeks, call us to check what is happening. If you would like someone else to talk to us about your application on your behalf (like your learning provider) we can do that as long as you tell our helpline that you are authorising that person to speak to us for you, and they are with you when you call us.