Please note that this website has a UK government accesskeys system.
If you’re 16, 17 or 18, Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) could provide real help with your learning costs. If you’re eligible, it’s easy to get your hands on the money. But apply as soon as possible: otherwise you may have to wait longer for payments. If you're studying in England, just follow these simple steps.
Four simple steps to getting EMA
If you got EMA for 2009/10, you may not need to complete another application form for 2010/11.
You’ll need to fill in a 2010/11 application form if:
The ‘EMA guarantee’ means you automatically get EMA payments at the same rate for up to three years, even if your household income goes up. This applies up to the year in which you reach 19.
So if you got EMA last year, you weren’t doing an e2e programme and your circumstances haven’t changed, you don’t need to complete a form for 2010/11. Just enrol at your learning provider for 2010/11, and you’ll continue to get your EMA payments.
See ‘EMA: how much and how often’ for a guide to how much EMA you’re likely to get for 2010/11, based on your circumstances. If you’re not sure whether you're eligible – or whether you need to fill in the form - call the Learner Support helpline on 0800 121 8989.
This page outlines how to apply for EMA if you’re studying in England.
If you’re studying in Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales, don't use the application form for people studying in England: you’ll need to apply to the EMA scheme for the country you intend to study in. See 'EMA in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales' to find out how.
If you're studying in England, the easiest way to get an application pack for 2010/11 is to request one online.
You can also get an application pack by:
It's still possible to get an application pack for 2009/10 from the Learner Support helpline: call 0800 121 8989.
Get your 2010/11 application pack
Assuming you’re eligible, the sooner you apply the sooner you’ll get your money.
You can apply for EMA at any time during the year, but if you want your payments backdated to the start of your course or learning programme you’ll need to apply within 28 days of the start date of the course.
Once you’ve completed the EMA application form, your parent or carer will need to supply evidence of the household income for the relevant tax year (for 2010/11 EMA applications, the relevant tax year will be 2009-10).
This might mean them sending in their Tax Credit Award Notice (TC602), or P60.
To get EMA, you’ll need a bank or building society account and the evidence to prove it (for example, an account statement or letter with your name, address and bank details).
If you haven’t opened a bank account yet, EMA is a good reason to get one.
If you are eligible for EMA, you’ll be sent a Notice of Entitlement (NOE) confirming how much you’ll get per week. It's important to keep your NOE safe: you won’t be able to claim EMA without it.
Take your NOE with you when you enrol on your course or learning programme.
Your school, college or learning provider will also ask you to sign a learning agreement, setting out what is expected of you in terms of attendance, behaviour, coursework and progress.
If you're not completely satisfied with how your application was handled, call the Learner Support helpline on 0800 121 8989. It's staffed by advisers who will be happy to help solve your problem.
Whatever you want to learn from 16-18, EMA is there to help
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