The Money to Learn Education Maintenance Allowance, known as EMA, is a means-tested allowance of £30 a week which is paid fortnightly into your bank account.
Year 12 if you decide to stay on at school or go to a further education college in Northern Ireland, you may be able to get the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA). It is available for both academic and vocational courses. EMA is a weekly award of £30 which is paid fortnightly to students who meet the eligibility criteria. It is intended to help cover the day-to-day costs that you have to meet when you stay on at school or college like travel costs, books and equipment for your course.
Further information can be found on the NI direct website
Information for new Applicants
- Return your application with all required evidence before 30 June 2020 to make sure your EMA application can be processed and ready for the start of your first term. The application form is attached.
- Term starts – to have payments backdated to the start of the term, you must apply before 30 September 2020. If you apply after 30 September 2020 you may have your payments backdated to the Monday after you return the application.
- Please read the information given on the NI direct website on how to apply for EMA
- If you have any queries about EMA you can contact the EMA helpline ,which is currently closed at the moment, but they do have an email address you can use.
Information for current Yr 13 students who have received EMA in the academic year 2019/2020
- If you received EMA during the last academic year, then you won’t have to complete another application form. Instead, you will receive a Returners award letter to check and your parent(s) or guardian(s) maybe asked for details about your household income. Once you receive the letter, check that all of the details in it are accurate. If you need to change anything, or if you haven’t received your letter yet, contact the EMA helpline. For further information visit the NI Direct website.
