The EMA System

[Yellow_Saxo_Paul]

Hey guys,

I wanted to hear your views on the government's EMA (Education Maintenance Allowance) scheme.

Students can get up to £30 per week into their bank accounts if they qualify for this scheme and then £100 bonuses each term for attendance etc.

I think your parents have to earn less then £30,000 collectively for a student to qualify.

My questions are:

1. why should students who parents earn more then £30,000 not received this? just because their parents have more money does not necessarily mean they can afford everything.

2. I suggest they should give these out in vouchers? Half of them use it for non-educational purposes i.e mobile phones, mcdonalds, shopping you name it.

You may say oh they have not got jobs etc but where does this EMA come from? your taxes that you pay!

Lib Dems have already said they are scrapping this when they get control of the government!

[Dave-B]

EMA Is a joke at my college, loads of kids just come to college 3 days a week and just doss... Lecterers dont kick them off but they still sigh the papers so they get the money?

[b0t13]

i think its a good idea, as people without rich parents literally have NO money although half the time it is used on beer etc.. but thats the student decision..

the only people that dont like the idea is students from middle class familys that dont get support from their rents, IE jealousy however they dont look at the bigger picture as they generally have a better life than people who recieve it.

and imo its very effective at keeping attendance up, id rather give tax money to a student with poorer background than some scumbag on the dole for weed money..

[nicole_]

i qualified for a tenner a week, and my mum lost her job and my dad got his salary cut in half, so we were really struggling.
i hate the fact that self employed parents dont count so i know someone with an 8 bedroom house getting the full £30 a week, made me so angry that he even applied for it!

[nicole_]

the only people that dont like the idea is students from middle class familys that dont get support from their rents, IE jealousy however they dont look at the bigger picture as they generally have a better life than people who recieve it.



ditto this, its always the people that dont qualify who have cushty lives that hate it

[Saxo-SX]

Realisticly, £30 is way too much.

Nobody I know spends it on "materials" either.

Pointless money given away imo. The only advantage I can see is that it keeps attendances up.

Why is £30 a week needed?

Its not for travel because thats what travel grants are for.

I could get EMA but my dad chooses to work 70-120 hours per week instead. Or he could sit at home and claim benifits inc EMA.

[Yellow_Saxo_Paul]

Fair points made above.

I think they should have a system to make sure it's used for eductational purposes.

For example bus passes, meal tickets, stationary vouchers. Things like that not just straight cash into their bank account.

I understand the struggle.

[brianS]

if the people in government want to through money at people and try to get them into education then why not, whats wrong is the under 30k thing. 30k a year is fuck all really. good old labour government, fuck the half rich and the rich and let the spongers and wasters take more and more
like the family that have 8 kids and are demanding more than the 70k a year they get and a bigger house.

[Saxo-SX]

Fair points made above.

I think they should have a system to make sure it's used for eductational purposes.

For example bus passes, meal tickets, stationary vouchers. Things like that not just straight cash into their bank account.

I understand the struggle.

I agree tbh. The £30 a week just goes on alcohol/cloths from what I hear.

But as said, If I was on EMA I wouldn't agree lol.

[danzman1991]

It's ridiculous, a family with one kid and a £30,000 income get nothing - fair enough, maybe they can afford to give there kid some money.

But a family with 4 kids and a £30,000 income still get nothing when they clearly can't afford to give all there kids money.

[tuft]

I think its an absolute fucking joke! complete waste of my taxes

education is a privilege, children should not be paid to go to school and the government shouldnt have to wave a carrot infront of the kids to make them go.

[tom130691]

i used mine to get to the fuking college

[Leonzee]

I geuss the thought behind it is that a educated population is a more productive and adaptable population. The more productive they are the more tax the government can take. It's a wierd take on Keynes General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money. Unless you study history at degree level or economics this books WILL Give you a headache.

[tuft]

I geuss the thought behind it is that a educated population is a more productive and adaptable population. The more productive they are the more tax the government can take. It's a wierd take on Keynes General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money. Unless you study history at degree level or economics this books WILL Give you a headache.

I understand this, but the ones who want to learn, will do without £30 a week. Thats more than I would earn working a saturday while I was in school. How are kids going to have any value of money if the government just throws it at them?

[Rach125]

i think its a joke it should be everyone gets it or no one gets it, realistically your getting punished for your parents going to work whilst the people whos parents dont work dont get all the luxuries. Like stated people should want to go to college to get some qualifications and not just think great i can get £30 a week, joke imo

[Leonzee]

Well the government isn't really throwing it at them. The way i see it is as an investment. The poor of society tend to avoid further education in search for employment as a short term escape from their poverty. This is a obvious point. But the jobs they go into aren't normally long term and they are likely to experience long periods of unemployment thoughout their lives via redundancy and other factors that are beyond their control. (That isn't to say that higher salary jobs aren't prone to the same risks but are much less likely to fold under financial termoil due to higher profit margins.) As a result of these unemployment spells they pay reduced tax, possibly lose their homes and are on unemployed benefits. The government believe that if the population is 'enticed' into education (via EMA) they are more likely to acquire jobs that give financial stability to both themselves and the economy as a whole.

This is the theory, but i guess people see the practice differently.

[b0t13]

ok an example thrown in here..

boy A wants to study business and IT at college, yet the closest college is 6 miles away and he lives where he has to get the bus everywhere, he live with his mum that has just lost her job and has to run the house etc..

he gained good grades at school and wants to further himself but cannot afford bus fairs and living costs without working, is he entitled to get it? or should he 'just get a job' bollocks which is easier said than done for alot of people..

opinions..

[Mr_P]

Everyone I know who got it spent it on getting pissed.

Those of use who didn't, used to envy those getting pissed.

[frankie]

I think its an absolute fucking joke! complete waste of my taxes

education is a privilege, children should not be paid to go to school and the government shouldnt have to wave a carrot infront of the kids to make them go.

agree'd

im at college. kane atleast £60 aweek on fuel and food, and i earn about £90 on a bad week.

i struggle some times, but i know once im fully qualified ill have a better way of living, so will to sacrifice a few years of being skint

[nicole_]

well my tenner a week went on food. its really helpful if your parents are stuggling. the idea of it is that i could have been in some shit job with no education getting money to help my parents out etc, but they want people to stay in education so by paying them they can get qualifications and still have a bit of money

[Leonzee]

ok an example thrown in here..

boy A wants to study business and IT at college, yet the closest college is 6 miles away and he lives where he has to get the bus everywhere, he live with his mum that has just lost her job and has to run the house etc..

he gained good grades at school and wants to further himself but cannot afford bus fairs and living costs without working, is he entitled to get it? or should he 'just get a job' bollocks which is easier said than done for alot of people..

opinions..

Fair point made here. There aren't a unlimited amount of part time jobs available for students who need to afford commuting costs and circumstances for some people force them into low payed unqualified work. EMA Gives a oppertunity to SOME People.

[MikeYost]

I get £30 a week, I live with just my mum and she can't work full time due to recovering from cancer, I give £15 a week to help with whatever and the rest is petrol to and from school, may sometimes have a bit extra but most of it is used for school / real issues!

[twoga]

it is stupid, I am at college and i dont get anything and i can tell you about 60% of students only go for the ema and then they try and get on a course that only does a couple of days and it is funny when they dont get there ema becuase they were late and they throw a shit fit and i bet like 95% of the students spend it on booze/drugs/cloths the ema is for college equipment, travel expenses and basicaly anything that helps out with your college work and not spending it on booze, it ridiculous and stupid i think they should not give any one ema and then see how many people go to college

[frankie]

the worst thing is, which i think someone has mentioned it...

you get loads of people that fuck about, find the course shite no interest in subject what so ever....

yet they dont get kicked out and still get about £30 a week, plus £200 bonus every term..

[twoga]

yes its stupid but it funny when i turn into class late by like a minute and the teachers says haha unlucky you just lost your ema and I turn around and say i dont get it, shuts them up

[b0t13]

yea there are people that abuse it and always will be, but would u rather they got £200 a month dole money for doing fuck all instead?

[tuft]

ok an example thrown in here..

boy A wants to study business and IT at college, yet the closest college is 6 miles away and he lives where he has to get the bus everywhere, he live with his mum that has just lost her job and has to run the house etc..

he gained good grades at school and wants to further himself but cannot afford bus fairs and living costs without working, is he entitled to get it? or should he 'just get a job' bollocks which is easier said than done for alot of people..

opinions..

Get a job, I did? 6miles is bugger all on a push bike, if he wanted it that much he could have it. I would love to see the government figures on the "return" for this investment

[tuft]

yea there are people that abuse it and always will be, but would u rather they got £200 a month dole money for doing fuck all instead?

no send them to the army, community service etc

should not be entitled to dole as they would not have paid in to the pot, to take any out

[VTR-GAZzA]

i think its good but im only saying that because im getting £30 pound a week but that used to go on before i passed bus money for the week n dinner money but now it just goes on clothes n petrol lol tbh everyone should get it to a cirtian degree

[Leonzee]

no send them to the army, community service etc

should not be entitled to dole as they would not have paid in to the pot, to take any out

Ugh army. Absolute waste of expenditure, it's not as if the army provides any economic return since we can't rape and loot places any more. Personally i'm more of a fan of forced menial labour. Also reduce school leaving age to 14 but make a reentry into education free. Therefore when your 14 and you want a bit of money go and get it but when you realise your whole life is shit and worth nothing you can go back to education at no cost.

[CraigLovelock]

I get £30 a week.

Its good stuff ;)

TBH, even people whos parents earn over 30k a year... dont mean there parents spend £30 on them a week...

It does my petrol good going back and forth though...

[raunchz]

Ema = a joke

[CraigLovelock]

Ema = a joke

Its a joke to everyone that doesnt get it...

But to those of us that do...

:y:

But honestly, it hardly covers my petrol per week.

I also work aswell so its not like im on the bum and living off ema.

[Saxo-SX]

ok an example thrown in here..

boy A wants to study business and IT at college, yet the closest college is 6 miles away and he lives where he has to get the bus everywhere, he live with his mum that has just lost her job and has to run the house etc..

he gained good grades at school and wants to further himself but cannot afford bus fairs and living costs without working, is he entitled to get it? or should he 'just get a job' bollocks which is easier said than done for alot of people..

opinions..

Travel grant and Doll money.

[Leonzee]

Personally Uni students need this more than college students ..

[tuft]

Ugh army. Absolute waste of expenditure, it's not as if the army provides any economic return since we can't rape and loot places any more. Personally i'm more of a fan of forced menial labour. Also reduce school leaving age to 14 but make a reentry into education free. Therefore when your 14 and you want a bit of money go and get it but when you realise your whole life is shit and worth nothing you can go back to education at no cost.

reducing the school leaving age would be suicidal, if anything it should be uppsed to 18, without the stupid grant.

People have survived up until ema was introduced, I travelled 10miles on a bus back and forth school for a year, funded by working in mcdonalds. kids these days are obviously far too good to work in mcdonalds.

[frankie]

id quite happily work in mcdonalds...

no sarcy white text here

[b0t13]

Travel grant and Doll money.

dont know of anyone that can get a travel grant easily, what about books etc? book grant? and u only get dole money when u sit doin fuck all pretending to look for jobs.

its a good idea and cheaper for the govn than just paying for wasters, just looks like everyones jealous tbh, i wonder out of the people that dont agree to it have had money towards their cars from the parents etc.. hmm..

[b0t13]

reducing the school leaving age would be suicidal, if anything it should be uppsed to 18, without the stupid grant.

People have survived up until ema was introduced, I travelled 10miles on a bus back and forth school for a year, funded by working in mcdonalds. kids these days are obviously far too good to work in mcdonalds.

thats what immigrants are for, well thats the reason they were let in, to do jobs noone else will lol..
so all the jobs like that are taken anyway even if u wanted to work there..

[raunchz]

Its a joke to everyone that doesnt get it...

But to those of us that do...

:y:

But honestly, it hardly covers my petrol per week.

I also work aswell so its not like im on the bum and living off ema.

The minority use it as it should, the majority don't. That was my exposure to it when was at school.

[Psycho18]

It's bullshit,

I was fixing computers on the side at college to get some money, when i should have been studying and revising. Nobody offered me EMA because my parents earn too much!
What my parents earn has nothing to do with what i earn!
Should be everybody or nobody.

This Socialist Goverment needs to be binned!

[tuft]

dont know of anyone that can get a travel grant easily, what about books etc? book grant? and u only get dole money when u sit doin fuck all pretending to look for jobs.

its a good idea and cheaper for the govn than just paying for wasters, just looks like everyones jealous tbh, i wonder out of the people that dont agree to it have had money towards their cars from the parents etc.. hmm..

yes I had money towards my 1st car, for my 18th birthday. was an N reg fiesta, £800. I paid half and my old man paid half, then I paid my own insurance, tax, MOT's, petrol etc

may be cheaper than paying for wasters, but does it work? I can almost gaurantee that there are thousands of kids that go straight from getting ema to getting dole? money well spent you think?

[James106]

Like said above, before when i didn't have a job, i used to to insure my car ( i still do ) , but still no reason for people not to get the bus.

I get £30 a week, i've never brought any materials/exams or what ever, I spend it on insurance.

It is wayyyy to much given away i agree. And btw it's if your parents earn less than 20k a year.

I know people that rely on it too much, for stupid reasons like going out in the piss.

But i know work, and pay tax so i wouldn't be bothered if it was abolished.

theres my 2p's worth

[---RoBsTeRz---]

Tbh i got it when i was at school and qualified for £30 a week. Tbh my mum wasnt desperate for money so she let me keep it which was cool. Didnt actually get it every week but it was like free money so wasnt too bothered. I was suprised i qualified for the whole £30 as i wouldnt say our family is poor but hey i took it!

[taitypot106]

i think its pretty stupid, my dad earns over 30 grand so i didnt get it at college, but i didnt get any off my dad either, so i was broke all the time at college. i think it should literally be for people that are desperate, i.e when a student only lives with one parent who only works part time or whatever. i know the more money your parents get means you might get less, like over 20,000 the student gets 10 quid instead of 30, their parents could get £29,999 and that student would be a tenner better off than me every week, which is ridiculous, half the parents of people in my class were well off and didnt give their kids money either, its just the goverment thinking that everyone earning over 30,000 gives their kids money. arseholes

[b0t13]

may be cheaper than paying for wasters, but does it work? I can almost gaurantee that there are thousands of kids that go straight from getting ema to getting dole? money well spent you think?

even if that was true, its still saved them money as the 2 years theyve been in college wasnt being wasted on dole money,

and u having a N reg car, that maybe crap, is still a car and better than a bus, ull find that alot of non-ema people get alot more over the year and tend to have cars whereas ema students have to get the bus etc unless they work and pay for it themselves.

[Pieface]

People saying spend it on books and materials, why not just give them materials within College instead of getting them to "buy" it. And give the ones on a lower wage a Bus Pass, instead off £30 a week.

It's a way to bribe students to vote for Labour pretty much. I think if you should have to get £30 get a full means test, go for an interview on why you need the money and you have to show reciepts/bus tickets on what your money is going on. You can't trust them lot to all spend it on resources. I knew off one person in my Sixth Form who saved it for Uni. The rest wasted it.

Heck, you get all your materials paid for at Sixth Form, and I knew someone who got £30 a week even though he lived a 2 minute walk away from High School, heck, you have to walk further to one of the school bus stops... So guess where his money went. (By the way, he does bugger all with his life, just dosses around, didn't even get any A-Levels as he didn't turn up for his test I believe in the end).

[taitypot106]

even if that was true, its still saved them money as the 2 years theyve been in college wasnt being wasted on dole money,

and u having a N reg car, that maybe crap, is still a car and better than a bus, ull find that alot of non-ema people get alot more over the year and tend to have cars whereas ema students have to get the bus etc unless they work and pay for it themselves.

thats bull, at college i didnt get ema, but i didnt have a car either, i had to get a job for one, and i definately didnt get more over the year. i have paid for everything myself since i was 16, 40 quid a week in board, car insurance, tax, mot, repairs, clothes. etc. you get the idea, and my parents are pretty well off

[b0t13]

thats bull, at college i didnt get ema, but i didnt have a car either, i had to get a job for one, and i definately didnt get more over the year. i have paid for everything myself since i was 16, 40 quid a week in board, car insurance, tax, mot, repairs, clothes. etc. you get the idea, and my parents are pretty well off

well no offense but thats your parents putting u in that position, do u think its fair that because uve had to pay out etc then everyone else should too?

if u look at it overall, people that arent on ema do have a better standard of living, and if u think they dont they uve obviouslly got your eyes closed..

and im sure if u needed something but didnt have money you could ask your parents, where as alot of people on ema dont have that option and there stuck.

naive middle-class views piss me off tbh, i got ema for awhile but worked aswell to fund my car etc.. i think everyone should work for money but having a 'support' fund incase ur not isnt a bad idea at all..

[taitypot106]

to be honest, it was my decision to start paying for everything myself not my parents, as that way i would learned to stand on my own and not take everything for granted, i feel good when i buy something because i know i earned it, not just got it for free. and i know alot of people who didnt get it didnt have a better standard of living at all, and i also know people who got ema that just wasted it all on drugs and drink everytime they got it, and you're saying these people should get ema? i think not. i agree with the people that say that things like bus passes and stuff should be given out instead of money, that is something that would save the government money. im not saying giving underprivelidged people things is a bad idea, i just think they have done it wrong

[Saxo-SX]

dont know of anyone that can get a travel grant easily, what about books etc? book grant? and u only get dole money when u sit doin fuck all pretending to look for jobs.

its a good idea and cheaper for the govn than just paying for wasters, just looks like everyones jealous tbh, i wonder out of the people that dont agree to it have had money towards their cars from the parents etc.. hmm..

Aslong as you live over 3 miles away from college you can get the grant as simple as filling a form in. For those that dont can walk/cycle.

Books/materials wont total £30 a week. With the exception of maybe art based corses as I know they do spend quite a lot.

I am jealous tbh lol, certainly wouldn't be complaining if I recieved EMA.

Im not really botherd that they get the money really, just that im not that botherd about high petrol prices. Its easier to be easy going and get on with life rather than moan about things.

A lot of people from 30k+ households might have had cars/ insurance bought for them.

My £400 saxo was my 18th birthday present, but I had to pay for my driving lessons, Tax, MOT, and Insurance.


Overall I agree that money should be paid to people from lower incomed houses, as I think this country would be even more fucked up if not. But as said, I think it would be better to provide food/books tokens etc. ......Although this wont be as attractive for people to go to college, meaning more doll dossers.

[ash_sx125]

I never qualified for EMA, my parents earned double what the upper limit was, meaning i went through 2 years of college with no financial support, other than what i'd earned myself during the summer.

Now i'm 19 i qualify for ALG, basically the same has EMA, but based on what i earn and without the bonus's at the end of each term.

I earn £0 so i recieve £30 per week paid 2 week in arrears... in my opinion it isn't enough.
£30 to get to college, buy food on a dinner time and anything else that may crop up.

It's my choice to go to college by car, but thats because a weekly bus ticket will cost me £12 yet i'll only need it for 3 days.. i can put £10 of fuel in the car and depends how i drive it can last me a week.

They also try any excuse they can NOT to pay you and they are too relaxed on actually paying on time.

[b0t13]

They also try any excuse they can NOT to pay you and they are too relaxed on actually paying on time.

another key point, dole money is dished out after doin a 10min meeting and pays higher, whereas ema/alg requires u attend all lessons etc through the week so needs more commitment, however if ur household income is 60k(double ema allowance) i dont personally think you should recieve anything benefits wise but alg works differently than ema.

ema give underprivileged teens a chance at college, if they fuck it up then thats there decision but at least everyone gets the chance, yes there are holes in the system but if the money was distributed in tokens etc.. who'd finance the staff and managerial costs of running that for the whole country? more money literally wasted tbh, whereas a 17-19yo should be able to manage money themselves and if they waste it then cant get to college, its their fault.

[twoga]

i dont see why somepeople are saying they need ema for petrol money, there is a simple answer to that dont drive and only drive when you can afford it yourself why should you get money for petrol just for going to college

[twoga]

what are you talking about bot13-(ema give underprivileged teens a chance at college) that is stupid you talk like people who get ema cant afford to live and there parants must live on the street you get to go to college for free and then you buy the equipment yourself which is not going to be to much (not £30 week to you finish college) and i am on a joinery course and if you get ema you are allowed to get a tool kit with all the tools you need and the tools are £145 and people who dont get ema have to buy there own or use the colleges

[ash_sx125]

i dont see why somepeople are saying they need ema for petrol money, there is a simple answer to that dont drive and only drive when you can afford it yourself why should you get money for petrol just for going to college

I only ever drive when i can, i honestly do not have a penny to my name, my parents income is tied up elsewhere (mortgage, cars, holidays) and it isn't up to them to fund my education, they've paid enough in taxes, i don't see why i shouldn't be getting some of it back to help me gain higher education.

I very rarely go out, i'm up till stupid o'clock on wednesday nights taxi'ing for people just so i have a bit of money spare.

I've applied for hundreds of jobs with either no response or an interview where i've later been told they cannot offer me the position due to my college hours.

Luckily i leave college this year and that will hopefully allow me to get a job where i'll end up paying all this money back in taxes!

Everyones circumstances are different, alot of the people moaning about the system are the ones who didn't get it!

[b0t13]

what are you talking about bot13-(ema give underprivileged teens a chance at college) that is stupid you talk like people who get ema cant afford to live and there parants must live on the street you get to go to college for free and then you buy the equipment yourself which is not going to be to much (not £30 week to you finish college) and i am on a joinery course and if you get ema you are allowed to get a tool kit with all the tools you need and the tools are £145 and people who dont get ema have to buy there own or use the colleges

well theres living comfortable and then just getting by, obviouslly u dont know the difference, u seem to think if ur alive then ur doing okay..

how can u buy any equipment without any money, this would be the only source of income so without it nothing can be paid for.

if u want the tools, whats wrong with the colleges stuff? buy your own tools if there crap, oh youll need a job first!, but there easy to get so shouldnt be a problem.. *sarcasm*

[taitypot106]

ash i think its funny how you think your parents have paid enough in taxes but you dont think you should get any, dont you think people have to pay enough taxes? you should definately want some back, the fact that my family pays a hell of a lot in tax every year means we should actually get something

EDIT
by the way, when your parents pay tax, and you dont get ema, they are just contributing to someone else getting it, or people on the dole who are too lazy to find a job. and you still think you shouldnt get any?

[Pieface]

well theres living comfortable and then just getting by, obviouslly u dont know the difference, u seem to think if ur alive then ur doing okay..

how can u buy any equipment without any money, this would be the only source of income so without it nothing can be paid for.

if u want the tools, whats wrong with the colleges stuff? buy your own tools if there crap, oh youll need a job first!, but there easy to get so shouldnt be a problem.. *sarcasm*

There are jobs out there, but the likes who get EMA and don't have a job as they "can't" find one. But they usually are too snotty to get a job at a fast food restaurant, or in a supermarket.

b0t, how many jobs have you applied for?

[taitypot106]

There are jobs out there, but the likes who get EMA and don't have a job as they "can't" find one. But they usually are too snotty to get a job at a fast food restaurant, or in a supermarket.

b0t, how many jobs have you applied for?


i agree

[b0t13]

lol its not just people who are on ema who are snotty, i think ull find its the otherway round, and FYI i worked through college and got ema aswell, hense i could afford stuff that i wanted, whereas if i didnt have a job or ema id of been stuck and wouldnt have gotten to college.
ema is a great idea that i agree does have holes in it, but id much rather tax money went on a college student than some junkie on the dole

[Pieface]

lol its not just people who are on ema who are snotty, i think ull find its the otherway round, and FYI i worked through college and got ema aswell, hense i could afford stuff that i wanted, whereas if i didnt have a job or ema id of been stuck and wouldnt have gotten to college.
ema is a great idea that i agree does have holes in it, but id much rather tax money went on a college student than some junkie on the dole

EMA is a poor idea. Give vouchers on the stuff, or give them the items they need. I'd much rather the people going to Uni would get EMA, as it shows that people are there to get an education as opposed to getting the money. And I bet you, that you could have survived without EMA if you had a job. And not all people on the dole are "junkies". I guess you need to be educated about the recession though, which it sounds like you're not with your narrow minded views.

[twoga]

b0t if your saying that ema is your only income and that the only way to get your equipment, i am sure that your parents can stretch to a couple of notebooks and a couple of pens and pencils and you say ema should be used on equipment then why do you need £30 a week how much stationary do you go through, you dont have to keep buying it ever week, so that means rest gets spent on what you want which is normal (cloths/booze/petrol)

[baker556]

I didn't get EMA, some people who got EMA would ask what the hell am i doing at sixth form if i don't get it.

Some people i knew on EMA were rich but parents had divorced etc but still got the money.

Personally think EMA should not be abolished, it should be handed out more carefully and every single students background should be looked at properly to see if they can apply for it.

Also think everyone who attended sixth form should have a set allowance say £10.00 pw to make more people who didn't/don't get the EMA to attend and get a better grade.

[b0t13]

EMA is a poor idea. Give vouchers on the stuff, or give them the items they need. I'd much rather the people going to Uni would get EMA, as it shows that people are there to get an education as opposed to getting the money. And I bet you, that you could have survived without EMA if you had a job. And not all people on the dole are "junkies". I guess you need to be educated about the recession though, which it sounds like you're not with your narrow minded views.

i never said they were, and i am very confident i know more of how the world is than you im afraid.

yes i could easily live off a wage when i was working and going to college, but im speaking generally about people who arent in that situation. the junkie point was just that, id rather give my tax money to a student than a hopeless junkie.

people who goto uni tend to recieve grants + loans instead of ema which is alot more than £30 a week! and how would u get into uni if u couldn't afford college? narrow minded me thinks....

being narrow minded is thinking ema is just for books, its to cover the costs associated with college, which includes food etc.. £30 a week isnt alot to live on tbh but it makes a big difference compared to nothing..

[SneakyVTR]

I think they should have a system to make sure it's used for eductational purposes.

For example bus passes, meal tickets, stationary vouchers. Things like that not just straight cash into their bank account.

Meal tickets would simply not work though, each college would have to adopt a system where they could use a meal ticket which would not only limit choice but also be more hassle than its worth..

[ollie-vt-]

a touch of the jealousy bug in this thread much?

i get £30 a week EMA, when i first started gettin it when i was 16 i admit i abused it - like using it at the bookies or buying fags/drink with it, but havent done that since start of 1st year. now at the start of the week i put £30 in my tank for petrol to get to college, and it comes in very useful.

as said earlier in this thread the only people who complain about EMA are people with well off families that dont have jobs so no personal income so are jealous.

and i absolutely fuckin hate the scum that have rich self-employed parents and claim EMA.

[TheSmith]

ok an example thrown in here..

boy A wants to study business and IT at college, yet the closest college is 6 miles away and he lives where he has to get the bus everywhere, he live with his mum that has just lost her job and has to run the house etc..

he gained good grades at school and wants to further himself but cannot afford bus fairs and living costs without working, is he entitled to get it? or should he 'just get a job' bollocks which is easier said than done for alot of people..

opinions..


i live about 6-7 miles from my colage and i get a free bus pass every 4 months they pay for but its only for that route to and from collage from my home

[TheSmith]

:( i have 3 siblings all younger then me i pay lodge and my mum and dad earn bout £39k between them so i don't get any ema but... working is ftw though get about £220 a week and do 3 A levels makes the ema bums jelaous :P

[Pieface]

i never said they were, and i am very confident i know more of how the world is than you im afraid.

yes i could easily live off a wage when i was working and going to college, but im speaking generally about people who arent in that situation. the junkie point was just that, id rather give my tax money to a student than a hopeless junkie.

people who goto uni tend to recieve grants + loans instead of ema which is alot more than £30 a week! and how would u get into uni if u couldn't afford college? narrow minded me thinks....

being narrow minded is thinking ema is just for books, its to cover the costs associated with college, which includes food etc.. £30 a week isnt alot to live on tbh but it makes a big difference compared to nothing..

Are you sure? As I said, most people claim there are no jobs, yet most of the time don't even try. It should be more like the Dole (As that is what it is) where you have to have given out a certain amount of CV's for jobs. You seem to be narrow minded on the kind of people who get EMA, you seem to make out they all live on little amount of money and there money is so precious to them. As I even said in my examples that one person I knew in the whole college saved it for uni. And one person who lived a walk closer than the Bus Stop just wasted it.

You can buy your books for the whole year most likely in the first 2 weeks maximum. As said you can get a travel grant if you live further than 3 miles away, so that's not usually a problem. Lets now say all your money goes on your Lunch, which mostly I knew from experience with friends, didn't. Say you are in College for 3 days, why not get a lunch from Tescos? £2 for a meal deal. Or College lunches are about £3 Maximum. so £6-£9. Where does the other £21 go? Now lets count that £21 with an average number, hey 500,000 students who get EMA. £21 x 100,000 = 20,100,000. So thats 20 Million a WEEK.

Lets do an average of 40 weeks you get EMA, not including Bonuses and the like (In fact, give me your reasoning for these Bonuses eh?)

20,100,000 x 40 = £804,000,000 spent on god knows what. Now lets say the average student get £200 of Bonuses (For god knows what), lets do the same maths.

£200 x 100,000 = 200,000,000

So there we are reaching over 1 BILLION on EMA that isn't a necessity really. But lets keep that Bonus money, as that should be enough for materials (Probably way too much). So 800 Million on travel expenses for 100,000 people? Usually with Colleges, especially the one I went to, it was a huge majority who walked to College. So there's around 1/4 to 1/3 of EMA given to people for no reason at all.

You never seem to agree with me on the voucher reason, just wondering why? I see no problem giving a voucher system, or even give them free lunches, give them bus passes and materials. I bet you that will equal less than £30 a week for a student. And surely those are the 3 reasons people get EMA.

You call m narrow minded, yet won't listen to ideas brought up in this thread. You call me narrow minded, even though I had experiences throughout School.

OK, I had a job through College, Ironically I spent my money on my Petrol to and from College, I spent it on my materials I needed, I spent it on my Lunches. And do you know what's funny? I still had money left from my job to buy myself a 32" TV. A New PC, A Macbook, an iPod, an Xbox 360, and other items. I made on average around £180 - £220 a month, I never got any bonuses and I was capable of holding a job, while still getting an education, which I passed, and am heading to University in September.

Not aiming this at you here, but this is the worst excuse I ever hear from College students, is that they don't have the time for a job. Especially those who go to College for 3 days a week, even though I was there 5 days a week. People are going to College just for the EMA, and not to get the education, hence I know a lot of people who didn't take exams, failed or got kicked out. And Ironically they all got EMA. I never knew one person who didn't get EMA get kicked out, fail, or miss exams. Because we were there to gain ourselves an education for the future. EMA is wasted money in my opinion, as it's such a loose bracket to get the money.

[twoga]

i agree with pieface and when people are saying they use the 30 all on petrol then if you cant get the money to pay for the petrol yourself then why should you rely on the goverment/college to help you out with that, you should walk or if its to far get a bus or get a lift of a mate

[Bound]

I got £30 a week.

I bought a gun and a car.

True story.

[Yellow_Saxo_Paul]

I didn't start this thread in jealousy. I started because it's a complete waste of the publics tax money if kids just going buy crap not help their education needs I.e bus pass meals etc I'd rather more tax money go to the armed forces and hospitals instead.

We all have to get by tbh.

[tuft]

B0t are you for real? ema is a complete waste of mine and everyone elses fucking taxes!
completely agree with pieface!
ema should be abolished and spent on more worthwhile things
agree with the voucher system aswell, the dole should be exactly the same! that way my taxes wont be spent on drink, drugs and fags

[Tlarking93]

i must admit i dont know what i would do without my EMA i get £30 a week and spend about £20 of it a week if im lucky enough as i have to pay for travel and food then i have £10 for the weekend which is a bonus, maybe a social drink, but no drugs

[tuft]

i must admit i dont know what i would do without my EMA i get £30 a week and spend about £20 of it a week if im lucky enough as i have to pay for travel and food then i have £10 for the weekend which is a bonus, maybe a social drink, but no drugs

could always get a job?

how do you think people managed before the bullshit ema scheme started? they worked for their money.

few comments about jeolousy, its not jeolousy, its about having a bit of pride about earning what you have, not living on fuckin handouts paid by the people who do have jobs!

[Pieface]

I survived on a job through Sixth form comftorbly. The problem is, the ones who get EMA will constantly want handouts given to them throughout their life.

Also, you seem like you deserve the £10 for a social drink? There's a good £1 Million a week wasted. It's meant to help you to get through college, not to give you a living.

As said, working is about pride of earning what you get, hence why in the thread about if you found £580 would you keep it, or hand it in, as said I would hand it in as it would feel wrong spending what I don't deserve.

[Rach125]

i totally agree with pieface and tuft, the scheme is a load of bollocks and most people just go to college to save them self's form work if they know they are entitled to EMA, which fills up spaces for people who genuinely want to go to college and cant get on the course they want

[BBM]

Load of crap to me, I should get it but dont claim it. My Mum is self employed and with a struggling business, she is far from rich - so no rich self employed parent digs please. At my school a lot of people stay on for one reason getting paid, they do nothing at school and get lazy. In my opinion you shouldn't get paid to do what is a priveledge as you dont have to be in education after 16.

[Tontsy]

i hate it, i think its a shit idea!
and if they come in and scrap it good for them

you can go to a school and ask people what they want to do when they leave school, and they will reply with, "sign on every week!"
it makes life too easy for the fucking failures in life!

just because others parents earn too much, for a child to recieve EMA, it doesnt mean their folks give them money, or contribute to things either!

fucking stupid!
im lucky that ive always worked hard, enjoyed it and been pleased being able to say yeah i worked my tits off and i bought this!
rather than, "yea innit i fookin wnt sk00lz n lernd 2b a coont!"

[TomT]

EMA Is a joke at my college, loads of kids just come to college 3 days a week and just doss... Lecterers dont kick them off but they still sigh the papers so they get the money?

Wish I went your college.. I don't get it if I miss like 30 minutes of a single lesson.

[Pieface]

Wish I went your college.. I don't get it if I miss like 30 minutes of a single lesson.

Oh woe is me. Imagine if they did that in a job! Ludicrous! Taking away your money for being late.

[TomT]

Oh woe is me. Imagine if they did that in a job! Ludicrous! Taking away your money for being late.

I wasn't saying the fact they take it away if I'm late was wrong was I ?

Was just stating how different it was to his college.

If someone said they could turn up to there job every now and then and get payed, I'm sure you'd probably comment saying you can't even turn up to your job 30 minutes later without pay being deducted.

[Bound]

Wish I went your college.. I don't get it if I miss like 30 minutes of a single lesson.

Same here bud. Sixth form?

To be honest, even £30 a week wasn't motivation enough for me to stay for a second year. I am so tired of education for the moment.

[Pieface]

I wasn't saying the fact they take it away if I'm late was wrong was I ?

Was just stating how different it was to his college.

If someone said they could turn up to there job every now and then and get payed, I'm sure you'd probably comment saying you can't even turn up to your job 30 minutes later without pay being deducted.

You weren't stating how it was different, you said you WISH you went to his college. You're not comparing, you're wishing.


And if money was your only motivation RichardBound to go to college, then I think you went for the wrong reasons. I went to get a decent future ;)

[Bound]

You weren't stating how it was different, you said you WISH you went to his college. You're not comparing, you're wishing.


And if money was your only motivation RichardBound to go to college, then I think you went for the wrong reasons. I went to get a decent future ;)

It wasn't. I'm saying that is the reasoning behind EMA. I'm also saying that didn't motivate me enough to want to carry on.

Bit off an asshole comment about decent future tbh. Seemed like a side swipe at people that don't go to college.

[VTRelite]

I had it and it was really helpful. I was at school 5 days a week, working at the weekend (Saturday and Sunday) earning £75 and the extra £10 came in real handy for basically filling the car up to get me to school and work

[TomT]

You weren't stating how it was different, you said you WISH you went to his college. You're not comparing, you're wishing.


CLEARLY Stated that at my college I can't be late without not getting EMA, so how is that not stating how it's different ?

[lemon191]

I used to get 30pw for all 3 years I was at college and tbh it is on the most part abused and wasted I got a free bus pass that meant I could travel for a pound each way so travel coat me £2 a day and I went college about 3days a week and I did it so never used any pens or paper etc just needed A memory stick which they gave out free I think it should be performance based you try hard and do well you get it turn up but don't bother you don't easy I knew people who would turn up late get told they lose the ema and would just turn around and go home lol scrap it IMO it's a good thing but not a luxury the country can afford unfortunatly

[Jamb0]

i loved it when i was a student, go to school all week, £30 to spend at the weekend :D beer <3

[twoga]

that comment from jamb0 really pisses me of , what is the point spend it on stuff to do with college and not to get drunk on a weekend

[KINGVTS]

stop worrying about such a small amount of money, do what you think is bestfor your future and not a poxy amount of money

[TomBob]

I get £30 a week and it's really helpful, don't know what I'd do without it. Haven't got a job because there are none around and I haven't really got time anyway. Gave up looking in december. My applications were just getting ignored.

However I do agree that:
A. It is unfair to people who earn over £30,000 a year and don't get it. Do their parents give them £30 a week?

B. It is wasting money that the government doesn't have.

In my sixth form if you miss 3 lessons in a week you don't get it. If I didn't get it I wouldn't be able to run my car, and a lot of my ema goes back to the government as I spend it on petrol and car tax.

£30 a week is not needed tbh. It would be better if people who earned under £30k a year got transport vouchers and w h smith vouchers as suggested. Then it wouldn't be wasted on beer. I certainly don't waste mine as it goes towards living costs and buying stuff I actually need.

[LeeM]

I don't see how people can complain about the fact we live in a country that can afford to invest in younger generations for the good of the community? The system isn't flawed, it's the fact it's abused by some!
The only people who ever complain are the ones who can't get it! I'm too old but could get ALG, that goes off you're own Earnings in the previous tax year though and I earned too much, don't see me complaining I just got a second job!

[brianS]

if the system is open to abuse then its flawed.

jesus i remember when i was in 6th form you got fuck all, you went because you wanted to learn and not end up stacking shelves for the rest of your life.

[Pieface]

I don't see how people can complain about the fact we live in a country that can afford to invest in younger generations for the good of the community? The system isn't flawed, it's the fact it's abused by some!
The only people who ever complain are the ones who can't get it! I'm too old but could get ALG, that goes off you're own Earnings in the previous tax year though and I earned too much, don't see me complaining I just got a second job!

The fact is we can't afford it...

[jw1325]

my mum was a single parent trying to keep a house etc.

my 30 a week went on living when i was at college as my college was too far out of the way to get a job (in the middle of the coutnry and i couldnt drive/afford my car then)

so my mum couldnt afford to support me my 30 quid a week went on lunches, and equipment for college.

my sister lives at home while shes at college and her 30 pound a week is digs to my mum. so it is fucking handy for people who cant afford to live.

whe i was at college i had a 100% attendance record and i passed my 2 years with distinction...id say i deserved it.

[DynamoXreme]

I get £20 a week. I guess some of that goes towards car petrol.

[jinx]

I knew a girl at college who studied every subject the college had to offer all so she didnt have to get a job, don't think she actually passed any, just moved from one to another when she didnt like what she was doing.

People also get bonuses for staying on too, an for good work lol

But saying that i claimed EMA for 3 years and passed all my courses including a couple of night courses i took.

All in all EMA and ALG is fantastic as it offers an intensive to learn, its just some people take all they can without even attempting to learn.

[Pieface]

I knew a girl at college who studied every subject the college had to offer all so she didnt have to get a job, don't think she actually passed any, just moved from one to another when she didnt like what she was doing.

People also get bonuses for staying on too, an for good work lol

But saying that i claimed EMA for 3 years and passed all my courses including a couple of night courses i took.

All in all EMA and ALG is fantastic as it offers an intensive to learn, its just some people take all they can without even attempting to learn.

Why do you need an insentive to work? Surely the whole of your future is an insentive?

[tuft]

you would have thought gaining further education so you dont end up on minmum wage for the rest of your life would be insentive enough?

[Morgzc]

My ema paid for my saxo, i walk to college so have any travel expenses and materials are only a few quid a month.

[brianS]

cant afford to go to college? thats a joke, i went and all of my mates at the time went to college, we are not talking uni here with 4 years of study, how can you not afford to go to college, its free is it not? and the excuse of cant get there etc etc without a car seems like crap. car pool with someone or go and get a part time job, work in a shop, work in maccy d's , work in a takeaway ffs. less than 5 years ago my brother went to college got himself there every day did the course worked at the weekend etc.

can see the reason the countrys going to the shits, everyone expects wants something and everything for nothing

[b0t13]

boring... people that argue against it have obviously never been in the situation where you need it, ema is aimed at supporting you through college not just on books etc.. its living costs,

i bet people without ema have, some of these things... cars, pc, own tv, cuboards filled with food, mum and daddy support etc.. etc..

open ur eyes as alot of people dont, and i bet they didnt buy all of it themselves, doing coursework without a pc at home is impossible, and before someone replys with "do it on the college computers then", grow up thats like saying sleep outside college so u dont have to walk or "just get a job" because its sooooo easy tbh....

[Mochachino]

I got £30 a week when i got this and some random bonus' then got excluded n they gave me like £300 lol didnt make much sense tbh.

[LeeM]

cant afford to go to college? thats a joke, i went and all of my mates at the time went to college, we are not talking uni here with 4 years of study, how can you not afford to go to college, its free is it not? and the excuse of cant get there etc etc without a car seems like crap. car pool with someone or go and get a part time job, work in a shop, work in maccy d's , work in a takeaway ffs. less than 5 years ago my brother went to college got himself there every day did the course worked at the weekend etc.

can see the reason the countrys going to the shits, everyone expects wants something and everything for nothing

alg would be useful to me while im at college because ive got more expenses than your usual 16/17/18 year old student. for some people there is more to factor in than just the cost of getting there

[Dom]

People around my area spend their EMA bonus' on weed.

[Dazed]

Like someone else said, just Labour's way of bribing the younger community to vote for them.

I wont lie, my parents pay for my fuel to and from college, food and car costs, but everything else I use my own money from working for fuel, going out, clothes etc. Most of the people I know who get EMA dont have a part time job and so have no respect for the money they're recieving because they're getting it free.

I know of people who get the full £30 a week who clearly dont need it, but have somehow got it due to their parents owning a business or something so their income can seem like it's lower than it actually is.

It definitely keeps people in education, but that doesnt neccessarily mean anything. Free education should be enough, if you want to do well in life then there's an open door for you. I never go to registration because I dont see the point, I just go to my lessons. If I got £30 a week for going then of course I would.

EMA is just a luxury for spending on alcohol, fags, clothes and fuel. It could work, but the Government manage it so badly that people are not using it for the right reasons.

Like someone else said, 4 kids in one family with a total income of £30000, clearly the parents cannot comfortably support their children yet they're not receiving EMA?

[Rach125]

boring... people that argue against it have obviously never been in the situation where you need it, ema is aimed at supporting you through college not just on books etc.. its living costs,

i bet people without ema have, some of these things... cars, pc, own tv, cuboards filled with food, mum and daddy support etc.. etc..

open ur eyes as alot of people dont, and i bet they didnt buy all of it themselves, doing coursework without a pc at home is impossible, and before someone replys with "do it on the college computers then", grow up thats like saying sleep outside college so u dont have to walk or "just get a job" because its sooooo easy tbh....

your making out that everyone who dosent get ema are like "yes mummy and daddy" and were born with a silver spoon in their mouth, well you could not be any further from the truth. People who do not get EMA simply have parents that work and want to provide for their family and show them the right direction in life, showing them what work can achieve and not to sponge off the government. Just because out parents work does not mean we get given all the luxuries, we buy these things for our self by getting off our arse and doing something. So b0t you open your eyes and look at the facts rather then the fiction

[Dazed]

Another thing that annoys me is that I work a full day most weekends and that gets me around £37.

People who receive EMA are getting around the same amount each week (inc. bonuses) and spending it on the same things as I do yet they get a free weekend every weekend to do what they want?

Who needs a job anyway when the Government pay you every week? What a brilliant message that's putting out.

[Morgzc]

Like someone else said, just Labour's way of bribing the younger community to vote for them.

I wont lie, my parents pay for my fuel to and from college, food and car costs, but everything else I use my own money from working for fuel, going out, clothes etc. Most of the people I know who get EMA dont have a part time job and so have no respect for the money they're recieving because they're getting it free.

I know of people who get the full £30 a week who clearly dont need it, but have somehow got it due to their parents owning a business or something so their income can seem like it's lower than it actually is.

It definitely keeps people in education, but that doesnt neccessarily mean anything. Free education should be enough, if you want to do well in life then there's an open door for you. I never go to registration because I dont see the point, I just go to my lessons. If I got £30 a week for going then of course I would.

EMA is just a luxury for spending on alcohol, fags, clothes and fuel. It could work, but the Government manage it so badly that people are not using it for the right reasons.

Like someone else said, 4 kids in one family with a total income of £30000, clearly the parents cannot comfortably support their children yet they're not receiving EMA?
It is a bit strange in that respect. My friends parents earn about 3-4 times what my mum does but his parents are supporting 5 people yet my mum just has to look after me so realisticly he deserves it more than I do.
I get £30 but I work too so you can't complain lol.

[Aaron]

my friend
used to work all week(par from college)
then go college on the monday and wednesday

his work was unpaid as he did it for experience(journalism) as he couldnt get a job in what he wanted
he got ema.
he worked flipping hard in both roles.
and deserved the £30 pound a week to be honest
i know theres slackers that use it for silly things.
but if he lost the ema system. he wouldnt work for experience and just go college.
as he does need to drive to his work and college and lives about 10 miles from both.

the way i see it
if uni students get it(or any other money scheme)
so should college students.

[Pieface]

my friend
used to work all week(par from college)
then go college on the monday and wednesday

his work was unpaid as he did it for experience(journalism) as he couldnt get a job in what he wanted
he got ema.
he worked flipping hard in both roles.
and deserved the £30 pound a week to be honest
i know theres slackers that use it for silly things.
but if he lost the ema system. he wouldnt work for experience and just go college.
as he does need to drive to his work and college and lives about 10 miles from both. No-one deserves free money if they can get a better life out of it afterwards.

the way i see it
if uni students get it(or any other money scheme)
so should college students.

University, you pay for your tuition fee's. College students you don't. Heck, you pay over 3k a year for college, and then yeah, you get EMA. I wouldn't mind that. That's only what, you get like £1.8k. You can foot the rest of your bill eh?

[TomBob]

your making out that everyone who dosent get ema are like "yes mummy and daddy" and were born with a silver spoon in their mouth, well you could not be any further from the truth. People who do not get EMA simply have parents that work and want to provide for their family and show them the right direction in life, showing them what work can achieve and not to sponge off the government. Just because out parents work does not mean we get given all the luxuries, we buy these things for our self by getting off our arse and doing something. So b0t you open your eyes and look at the facts rather then the fiction

My mum works, she doesn't earn £30,000 a year though and is no frank gallagher.

[Yellow_Saxo_Paul]

argh ffs people on ema really annoy me with their attitudes :@

[tom130691]

try living 15miles away and having to spend £20 a week on bus fairs £10 a week for lunch plus what i took

bonus are not used properly the tutors control them but sign everyones anyway
but they were very useful

[b0t13]

lol at everyone repeating themselves

"if u want money then earn it" i agree with this totally but its easier said than done for alot of people.

"it gets spent on beer, drugs etc.." yea it does in alot of cases, but thats excess money being abused, they didnt magically fly to college and eat magic free fairy dust,

the way the system is implemented is flawed but the idea behind it is very good, and people who dont get it think its a waste of money, tbh alot of people do waste most of it, but thats life and happens in EVERY system the government has, fact.

how many people who dont get ema actually have jobs and receive NOTHING from the rents btw? i bet theres not many..

[chinkostu]

i got EMA when i was in college. it was nice as i wasn't in work, and when i didn't get it, i was working! most of what i saved went on basses :)