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The Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) is a weekly grant to help young people stay on in education after 16.
The EMA can be spent on whatever you want - it could help pay for travel costs, books or equipment for your course.
The award has been paid to all young people in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, who are eligible, from September 2004, following successful pilot schemes which were tested across 56 Local Education Authorities in England from September 1999.
To qualify for an EMA for you must be 16 and be doing at least 12 hours of guided learning on academic or vocational courses at a further education college, or full-time, at a school sixth form or sixth form college.
You must sign an EMA contract with your school or college. The contract will spell out what is expected of you in terms of attendance, coursework and progress.
EMA is paid directly to young people from households with an income of £30,810 or less.
If you're entitled, you'll receive your EMA payment of £10, £20 or £30 every fortnight as long as you attend your classes. Most young people will be able to get EMA for two or three years depending on how long they need to finish their studies.
In addition, you could get bonuses of £100 if you remain on your course and make satisfactory progress with your learning.
The EMA will not affect any household benefit, which you or your family receive – whether that's Jobseeker's Allowance, Income Support, Child Benefit, Working Tax Credit or any others. You'll also be able to keep whatever extra income you may earn from a part-time job.
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