Educational Maintenance Allowance (EMA)

EMAs abolished from end of 2010

Following the Comprehensive Spending Review, the DFE website has announced that Educational Maintenance Allowance (EMA) is to be abolished, to be replaced by an enhanced discretionary learner support fund. This new fund, it states, will be better able to target those young people who face a real financial barrier to participation. The website states that "Young people currently receiving the EMA will continue to receive it for the rest of the academic year. They will not receive it in the next academic year. The EMA scheme will close to new applicants from January 2011." In other words, those in receipt of EMAs at the end of December 2010 will continue to receive their EMA payments, but those whose course starts in January 2011 will no longer be entitled to apply and no further applications will be accepted.  Needless to say, we would therefore strongly advise members to ensure that any learners who may be eligible for EMAs are encouraged to apply now and "cash in" their Notices of Entitlement at the earliest opportunity, as this will no longer be possible after the end of the year.

The full details can be found on the DFE website

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