Am I still eligible for EMA....?

You're having trouble getting through to the Educational Maintenance Allowance helpline because of technical problems on their side.

This has also caused a delay in the application processing. But they are working on correcting the probs and promise not to miss out on any payments. They'll be back-dated as long as you put the application in within 28 days of the start of your course :)

They are recruiting new staff at the moment to take on the extra workload and have opened their helpline on weekends to try to cope better. So keep trying till you get through.

Try phoning on 0800 121 8989 at weekends between 8.00 am and 4.00 pm.

Hope this helps. All the best.

Here's some general info on Educational Mainenance Allowance:

Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) comes in weekly payments of £10, £20 or £30 which go directly into your bank account.

However, you will only get your money if you regularly attend and work hard on your course.

If you qualify, the amount you receive is calculated by looking at your household income. It isn’t affected by any money you earn from part-time work, and won’t make any difference to any benefits your parents get.

On top of your weekly amount you can also receive bonuses – but only if you continue to do well and meet targets set by your teacher, tutor or provider when you start.

Do you qualify?

First of all you need to be 16, 17 or 18 and have left – or be about to leave – compulsory education.

You need to be enrolled on a course in England which is either:

a full-time further education course at a college or school

an LSC-funded Diploma (where available) or a course that leads to an Apprenticeship

an LSC-funded Entry to Employment (e2e) course (if your e2e course starts on or after 30 June 2008, you’ll get the maximum £30 weekly EMA payment, regardless of your household income)

To qualify for EMA in the academic year starting in September 2008 your annual household income must be below £30,810 (for tax year 2007/2008).

And there’s good news if you have a part-time job – any money you earn isn’t included in your overall household income.

Also EMA does not affect any other household benefits. So your parents and carers are still free to keep claiming child benefit, tax credits and so on.

Entitled is tiered like this:

Household income up to £20,817 per year -- You would get £30 per

week

£20,818 - £25,521 per year per year -- You would get £20 per week

£25,522 - £30,810 per year -- You would get £10 per week

more than £30,810 per year --- You would no longer be entitled to EMA

Yeah you should be (you might not got bonuses though as you only get upto £500 bonuses and as you were there for 2 years you would have already had your 5)

EMA are 6 weeks behind with all their application forms because they've set up a new system and they've received twice as many application as previous years. They're 5 weeks delayed with payments aswell! They've employed more staff to work evenings and weekends just to get through all the applications.

They are telling people to allow 6 weeks for a reply and then give them a call. I've been waiting 7 weeks, I rung them last week and they told me to give it another 2 weeks and then call back if I'd still not heard anything! There's also a delay of 5 weeks on payments so even when you get your NoE form your likely to have a delay on any payments but they will backdate any money owed.

Don't worry most of the students in the country are in exactly the same position.

Good luck give it 6 weeks from when you sent your application form and give them a ring

Yes you are still eligible as you're 18 y/o

But be aware that EMA had technical difficulty and that they have received more applications than last year, so you might have to be patient.

Don't worry if you haven't got it yet, your payments can be backdated as long as you hand in your NOE as soon as you receive it.

But if you don't hear until a week then call their helpline

(But it is best to check in case they lose your application):

0800 121 8989

The number above is free and don't forget to press option 1 for EMA and follow the instructions given on the phone.

I also recommend you to ask for the staff's name because there are some staff who has different stories to tell about your application.

When I rang EMA, numerous times, there were different staff talking about my application. One said I am on their computer database and the other states I'm not on their database and so this is like a miscommunication thing, so remember who were talking to each call (if you still have't heard about your application).

And I also found out that there are 4 EMA contact centres in th UK (processing applications I assume).

it would depend on how old you are EMA is for people 16 to 19 you should be if you are a british citizen and it also depends on how much your parents earn as well then you could get EMA it would depend on how much your parents earn but if your parents are staying in spain then i dont know

Yes, yes you are, i just turned 18 too and full time ed and am entitled to EMA too, i sent mine off ages ago, it is being really slow this year most of my year have not heard anything back at all you just have to keep waiting.

Yes you are. Until the age of 19, and even than you can apply for the adult verison. You can get it for three school years.

If you havent had a reply - you need to email them or write a letter. Everytime ive called ive always got through. Try again,

And dont worry because they back date it

yes you should be,

there has been alot of problems with their system this year my sister applied in june and still hasnt had a letter back its happened to alot of people so it shouldnt be anything to worry about.

You should be, but you need to chase it before it is too late.

All the best.