Community Action Features

What are your feelings? Is the EMA a way to help students, or is it causing problems? Do you get it? How did you use it? Or were you refused it?

Matthew Shields
basically EMA discriminates against 16 year olds, ihave to work my weekends to get £30 while the rest of my friends can go out and play sport because they get EMA. i am descriminated against because my parents choose to work hard, but they cant affod to give me £30 a week like the government does, so thank you government its proves that it pays to have a lazy britain

hayley
The EMA system really does need sorting out. You get people who live in deprived areas who cant be bothered to work so they all claim benifits. Then when you get the people that actually do get off their backside and go to work their children suffer in the long run. My step father and mother both work and my step dad has two jobs.That just keeps us going. Im not elligible for EMA but my parents cant afford to buy the college equipment i need. The sytsem is stupid. You should accept certain applications prefably those who really need the money. Instead the government just throws them aside leaving them to struggle. Its needs re-assesing or abolished.

Jack Taylor
Why don't you all just go on benefits thats when you get money for free!! Your moaning about working.. just do the same as the others then you don't have to.. if your so bothered about the money make your parents have a rubbish job and live in a council house! GET OFF YOUR HIGH HORSES AND FACE REALITY! Britain is the joke , not being grateful for anything they receive.

samantha jones
turned down my daughter we were 10.00 over we have five children and we both work and never take fromt he state yet my daughters friend's mum is a housewife and husband works is an only child so she will get 20.00 per week i can't afford to do that maybe i will get rid of my other children and husband earn 15000 per year and she will get 30.00 sad but true

Emily
EMA is a right joke, its unfair!i dont blame the people who recieve it as its there, its the government - its totally stupid.it causes some people to be lazy n just come to school beacsue they get free money, when other people dont get anything for coming to school - its a right jokeeeee.and fair eenough if its for books n bus fair n stuff - so why dont the schools or government supply schools so that the school can give the stuidents the textbooks n paper n bus passes instead.its stupid and not right in the least.many people waste it on booze n fags n drugs - and then the government say that they want to cut down on underage drinking - well basically the government are supplying kids with the money.get it sorted!

Hannah
EMA is an exteremely unfair system, I don't blame the people who get it, I blame the government. Why should some people get paid £30 a week just for turning up at college while others get nothing?It encourages laziness because they will not get a part time job like people who don't get EMA are forced to. The government doesn't realise that just cause my parents earn over £30,000 a year, it means that they can afford to give me £30 a month! They can't even afford to give me ten, it is a disgusting generalisation of more "well off" households.It really is a ridiculous system, if they actually spent it on what they were meant to, it would be alright, but all of the people I know that get it save up to go on shopping sprees. It infuriates me when they moan that they haven't been "paid" this week as well, which completely destroys the definition of paid, when you think "paid" you think of getting money you've EARNT for hours of hard work, not just showing your face in a classroom! Even then some of them don't work at school, and fail their exams because they've only come in for the money and just not listened.Turning up at school is NOT hard, I've managed it, and I've managed my part time job for 3 years too, it's even worse if they claim EMA AND have a part time job, as they are earning nearly doubly more than us, it's outrageous.The government is trying to put a stop to underage drinking? But what do you think they spend their money on? Books? A lot of people I know spend it on alcohol, which just isn't right.EMA could be a useful system, if it was set up properly. As in giving them book tokens or WHSmiths vouchers. I also think that if one household should get this priviledge, everyone who attends college should.

Sophie
EMA may be a good idea for some. However, it really is a very unjust system. I understand that if the parents are divorce and living apart the government does not take into account their joint incomes when assessing the limit for receiving EMA. This is very unfair because the income from the 2 parents living apart exceeds the limit. It is almost to say 'you can only have one parent to financially support you'. This however means that the person receiving EMA can receive financial support from both parents (whose income exceeds the 30000 limit) and still get EMA.If a maximum salary is to exist, it should apply to the total income of BOTH parents irrespective of whether they are married, or separated or living on the other side of the moon! My parents feel as though they are being penalised for maintaining a family unit! They say i would be better off if they were separated! This is very true. I think the whole idea is a complete scam. People say that others make complaints like this out of jealousy, but to be honest it is a complete and utter outrage and the EMA should definitely be re-assessed. I feel as though we are being robbed of money that should be entitled to everyone, or at least those who really need it- an individual assessment should be carried out under more stricter and justified regulations. This is ridiculous. Sort it.

James
The EMA is Discriminative.it is highly unfair. just because out parents earn more doesn't mean we actually receive it.I asked some friends who were getting it. they said they would spend it on clothes,games and dvds.. which is unfair. they should either abolish it or even give equal amounts to other people.I HATE THE EMA.

Not entitled
I'm just about to go into the sixth form and I'm not entitled to EMA - but with the huge amount that my parents pay in taxes they cant afford to give me £30 a week - I agree with many other comments on here that EMA is wrong, being abused and is totally unfair for people who earn above 30k - it should be all or nothing.

Luke
lol you shouldnt have 10 people in your family and should wear a condom then, thats your parents fault, they should know the consequences

Staffordshire
I think the system is unfair and should be looked at. I myself will soon be attending a local sixth form and will not be recieving EMA. If an EMA student is given £30 every week "to spend on their education" what will they actually spend it on? I believe this ammount is just a signal to the student "Spend as you want" I know of a student who will be recieving the full £30 from EMA next year can still manage to spend over £270 on a prom dress, just for one night. This is theoretically 8 weeks of EMA spent on a dress. I believe the EMA system to be unfair, just because peoples parents work hard and make an effort and as a return just get punished. Just because my parents earn over the £30,000 limit doesn't mean that they will simply just give me how ever much money I want whenever I want. So the students who will not be able to recieve EMA will suffer because we will have to get part time jobs instead of focusing on our important education, where as EMA students don't need a part time job and can just use their free EMA to spend it on what ever they want and most likely not their education. The students like myself will suffer as we will have to spend our time earning cash while others get it for free. I do understand that some parents can't earn over the ammount, but at the same time I believe £30 is to large of an ammount. I believe everyone should have it or no one.

.....
I think that EMA in principle is a good idea, but in practise it it unjust and unfair. My friend somehow applies because her dad doesnt work but can afford a 6 bedroom house in a very wealthy area and annual skiing holidays. I think the same for all continuing education, or none for everyone. My parents can't afford £10 a week never mind £30. It's an unfair world.

James
What are the goverment trying to say to us. That all of us who have parent who earn over 30k are not good enough to learn. I thought this country was equal. Im of to Australia!

Emily
i think EMA is very unfair. all the students in my class with EMA avnt got a job n get money 4 nothin where all the students wivout EMA are working there butt off to get some money. My parents dont give me any money for going 2 college so y should other ppl get money 4 going 2 college.

Sean Johnson
my family consists of 4 brothers and 3 sister my parents earn just over £30,000 a year i am not entitled to EMA however between the 9 of us £30,000 dosent go every far. I think EMA is wrong and very a very unfair system. My parents cant afford to give me £30 a week tey alone £10. I have to work 6 hours at Tesco to get what others are getting for free its rediculous.

Grant Banner
EMA is probably the most unfair financial scheme in the UK. The people I know who earn £30 a week spend it on Cigarettes and Alcohol. I get £10 a week and some of my classmates get nothing, they are the people I feel for the most, they have large families that have to spend more on taxes, mortgages, and food and drink to survive. I even know people who cheat the system to get the £30 a week, that's how much some people want it, not need it. I would do anything to get the amount, but not cheat by saying I live with my Grandparents, thats corrupt! A lot of people in this discussion have put brilliant points across, Tom Wright mentioned the fact that some people go to Uni and College to get the qualifications they need to get the job which is well paid, thats common sense and everyone should do it, why punish their children by giving £30 a week to the kids of a single parent living on benefits. It's an outrage! All for one, or none for all. It's simple. £30 for all students furthering their education, or £0 for everyone. My parents didn't get money for going to college, I doubt yours did either!

Jo
I wont get ema but my parents can't afford to give me or my sister £30 each a week. It is ridiculous that just because some students parents don't work they are entitled to receive £30. It is very unfair!

Matt, Weymouth
I think that EMA system is exceptionally unfair! My parents struggle to pay for us 3 children so therefore cannot afford to give us £5 a week, let alone £30. I now have a part time job however so does my friend whose parents are on benefits as they think that they get more money through them than if they went to work. He has the same job as me but gets £30 a week for going to school, same as me. The system is exceptionnally unfair, I agree with most of the others: All of us or none of us.

Tyler
Anyone who gets EMa is just an idiot. All they do is waste it on alcohol and going out having a good time. Its time the government changed it, asap!

Jack Taylor
I live on my own at the age of 16 and currently go to 6th form, the EMA is a lifeline payment that i await for each friday. This is because it becomes part of my income, to pay my bills. Yes people may buy knives and cheat the system, but that is there own fault, the system should not be stopped for students like me. What goes around comes around. People would only find other ways to buy knives and commit fraud by cheating the system. There is not enough funding availble for independent 16/17 year olds.

Huh, Question?
I just wanna say this. If you go for a job interview and your 16, 17 or 18 does your boss ask you how much your parents earn? No, because it doesnt matter. Imagine this two 17 year olds sit down at an interview. The interviewer states that the first boy whose parents earn 20,000 a year will get £30 a week, whereas the other boy whose parents earn 40,000 a year wont get paid. They share the same amount of work. This is a parody of EMA. Please think about this!

EMA hater
Ive just read the comments below and want to say thankyou to Sophie Hall, its very true. I completely agree with you! Im not 16 yet but cant help but feel outraged by those new advertes for EMA. It seems now that the government and the Labour party seem to want to say 'Hey kids,if you get EMA you'll be really intelligent and succeed in life'..... erm sorry but in that sense it means that people that dont get EMA then surely are idiots! Seems that way doesnt it Mr Gordon Brown. My parents cannot afford to give me 30 quid a week. I can kinda see what EMA is a parody of - Benefits. Yes lets give money to underpriverliged kids as well that way they get Easy Money AND they dont even need to get a job. Well, good job government cant wait to see ya crash and burn when us normal people rebel!

Coral
I'm 17 and currently in college doing a full time national diploma in media. I don't get EMA because of my parents earning to much BUT the problem is even though they earn so much they struggle to just provide me with my bus fair, never mind supplies for college or money for trips =\ Most of the money they earn go into paying bills, mortgages and what not. It's hard for me because i feel stupid when i can't even afford to get the bus and buy a new note pad for my work and stuff. Although i can go out to work, i just can't fit it in..every day at college and then busy looking after my family on a weekend and getting my college work done..i don't have alot of spare time..so having EMA would really help me and my family to manage our lives that little easier. I do think that EMA should be available to everyone but if students do have spare time and can working then they really don't need EMA.I think the government should really get there ass in gear and think about it in more depth..yes it would take time to evaluate every persons reason for EMA but it would be helping to many students to get the education they deserve.

Emily
EMA should be for everyone or for know one! I work 12 hours a week and don't even get what some students get on EMA everyweek. Is that fair?? The fact that the students who need a job, because they don't get EMA means our grades are falling! Also many people are only going to school because of the fact that they get money, they never do any work or never attend, though somehow always cheats the system and still gets EMA. And who needs £30 on books and products for school everyweek like EMA says its for! It is just giving them money for drink. If is digraceful!!?!

ste
it is a problem i don't get anything i hav a car bt lookin for a job i need money to run me car. there are people in me class that get it and they hav a well paid part time job, ema and get money from college coz they say they don't get enoght money. i think it is discrimanation to the people that don't get it and i don't get any money from me mum or dad ever though they earn over the amount and i think everone should get it or no one should get it. its not fair and should be sorted out quicklythanks

The Cunningham Clan
We are a household with 5 children, my oldest at college. My husband has income higher than 30,000 so my son does not receive ema. My husband has studied hard for the last ten years and worked hard to get to where he is today,so he could support our large family. I cannot work due to caring for children aged 4 to 17 and a child who has cerebral palsy. He has paid his 40% taxes and feel that ema should not only be tested on earnings but also family size ... although my husband earns a good wage, we cannot afford to give my son the amount Ema is giving students on a weekly basis, so my son goes without. My neice gets Ema and works a part time job, which my son also has had but only over xmas and has since been unable to get. Most of my son's friends parent's feel exactly the same way. Because the family income is over £30k, it is as if Ema is saying that you earn enough to give your child the equivalent each week, which is definately not the case.I am sure the majority of students use this money to socialise and not on school necessities - as the one's I know who receive it do!The whole system is wrong!

Simon
The real joke of EMA is that virtually everyone i know that gets it, doesn't need it. Its basically giving away free money for a stupid reason. You don't have to pay for college edication, so getting money for it is just ridiculous. For most of the people i know who get it, they are basically getting a reasonably substantial wage every week and doing very little for it. The most annoying thing is most of them confess to spending it on nights out and shopping. Shuld be abolished ASAP!

anonymous
I think ema is very infair and doesnt take into account anything other than how much the parents earn. Everyone i know who gets EMA spends it on fags or alcohol or really random unessasary things. Also one of those people's parents are split up and live very close, so he gets money, college materials and food from both, but the 30k rule only applies to the father, who earns much less, so he gets the 30 pound a week, and becuase he can walk to college and doesnt need to buy food, he spends his money he bought a playstation3 and an ipod! I do agree some kids use the EMA to get to college and buy materials, but to be honest, most of them dont need too. I also have a part time job wher i work sat and sun all day minimum wage and dont even get 30 pound, meaning all my other friends who do get EMA can do whatever they like all the time.Also it seems everyone who doesnt get EMA complains about how its unfair an they need it, but everyone who does doesnt care and thinks everyone should stop complaining...

Tai
ok, im severely angered by this. I do not recieve EMA, but nearly every single one of my friends do, and out of all my friends, only one of them actually uses it for travel and supplies for college. as well as their £30 a week AND £100 bunuses they all also have part time jobs which pays them the same amount as my part time job every month. which means that in the long run, they are always loaded wheras i am struggling to make my pay (the only income i get) last an entire month. in my eyes and i imagine most peoples EMA is totally unfair and causes arguments between students (i have seen this happen) only today, me and my friends are planning a trip to the leeds festival this year, and they are all planning on using their £100 bonus And £30 EMA to pay for the trip. No worries for them, free money! wheras my entire months pay is going to be spent on one ticket! meaning i am stuck without any money for an entire month, wheras they are happy and fine going about their day. They get rewards for doing the same amount of work as i do, it feels like im being punished and i will say that it has made me nearly drop out of college because it is so unfair and i almost cant stand being around my friends with no money any more. face it. No one uses the EMA for what it is supposed to be used for. its spent on games, dvds, clothes, cinema, festivals. it REALLY grates on me, and is the most unfair scheme in the world. it seperates and singles people out. One of my friends dropped college because the EMA was driving him mad, and i am considering the same. It actually makes me think "why should i" when it comes time for class. Get rid of it, or give it to everyone, lets make this world FAIR shall we? what, do they think that OUR parents give us £30 a week and free £100 extras? no, of course not! its discrimination.

carl
I want to know is it the taxpayer paying for this system or the govement funded?? If so like me and many others working for are course I belive this system is really poor

Adam
EMA was probably introduced to close the wealth gap and reduce inequality. But all it has done is increase inequality. Most people end up spending their EMA money on fast food at lunch time or video games. Whereas I am not eligible for EMA, have to earn money myself since my mum who is a single parent cannot afford to give me pocket money. All EMA does is promote a life of living off the state instead of working for your money.

Guy
i dont get ema, ihave to work 16 hours per week for any money, as i dont get pocket money. i know a girl who gets £30 a week, and her parents are minted! with a 5-series bmw and a range rover, huge tv's, all the designer clothes in a 6 bedroom house, and your telling me they get less then 10K PA!!!!!! Its a joke and cases need to be assessed. My parents could not afford to give me £30 a week, ok were well off but they wouldnt just out of principle, that i shouldnt have money handed to me on a plate. whats also F annoying, is that my parents are paying for all this EMA through taxes, ad just being dished out to people better off than us. Yes, some people to qualify for it, but just spend it on booze and bud anyway so whats the point?!?!? who buys £30's worth of pens and paper a week i mean really!?!?!?!? it is used as an incentive to go to school and be on time, if i got EMA ide go to school everyday and never be late, but i think why should i when some people are being given money to them on a cystal plate, not working hard, failing their lessons and spending the money on useless things, like gig tickets etc. isnt it funny how people on EMA always get driving licences and cars first? i wonder where they get the money from..hmmmm let me think....

Emma
i do not get ema.. my friend does but her father is round her mothers house on a regular basis but because they only live with one parent she recieves it. i work and i dont get the amount these people get at christmas and easter! the government need to do something about this. its discrimination. just because your parents earn more they dont neccessarily give you the money that ema provides. either everybody should get some or no one!!! i still attend my lessons at college but dont get paid for it. this government is a joke with some of there ideas at times!

Will
Hi im 17 and go to college. I do not get ema. I have friends who do and their families are loaded but cheat the system. It is not fair on giving it only to those students with parents earning under 30,000. Yes it may help out the parents but many average families and people like me's parents cannot afford to give me this kind of money to use however i feel like.

Claire
EMA is a ridiculous government scheme. Sure, some people should be entitled to it, but i know there are people at my school whose parents are both doctors and lecturers at university, have found loopholes within the system so are entitled to the full £30 a month. Most people i know who also get EMA subsequently dont feel the need to get a job. We live in a culture of dependency, where some of us are having to work incredibly hard in order to finance those that cannot be bothered. I am also sure as well that if i did not have to spend all my time working outside of school to finance my learning my grades would be better. Its an easy ride for most people with EMA. I also think the bonuses of £100 are also ridiculous - the government are breeding people to live on the values of immediate gratification. They worry about the economy now, but what will it be like in 10 years time, when we have a state that is comprised of those who have for most of their education, expected things to be handed to them on a plate. Institutions like Oxbridge also use the policy to boost their 'working class' inake - they look at whether or not the potential student receives EMA, but in most cases, the applicant is a m/c fraud.Although, i am aware that some should be entitled to EMA , it is one of the best examples of white collar fraud.

Lynne
It's quite sad that people want to deny working class teenagers money they need just because they don't get it. How many of you people opposed to it would really be told "No you can't have a pen/paper/folder we cant afford it". EMA is about giving the bright working class kids a chance, some are bound to abuse the system but the majority probably don't. Seriously get over it. If you got it and other people didn't you wouldn't care. Stop acting so self-righteous. I know it's heartbreaking to see these kids get one advantage you didn't get, but seriously I feel quite disapointed in British youth.

Charlotte
I don't claim an ounce of EMA yet I could REALLY do with it. Instead, I have to drag myself to college studing 4 A Levels FOR FREE and also work 16 hours per week to fund the resources I need for those. Yes my parents earn over the "threshold" but that doesn't mean that their earnings are given to me. In a lot of the cases I see at college, students turn up, don't do the work or submit assignments, just get a brightly coloured sheet of paper stamped for each lecture and then receive 30 pounds per week for it - and an additional 100 pound bonus for just turning up! It's disappointing because not only is it bribary, it's not working. Because those who receive EMA rarely spend it on buying resources for their studies, they spend it on their hobbies and social lives without having to go to work. Whilst those of us that work part time on shifts and full time as students get to slave away studying with the only motivation being "passing our exams". Sometimes I wake up and think "Why bother? These layabouts will only be handed jobs anyway because they went to college too..."EMA = Farce. End it, or make it fair.

Kathryn
Also, My parents have 4 mouths to feed. These parents who have ONE kid, get £30,000 a year meaning their child still qualifies for EMA. But if you counted it out, i'd say they were actually alot better off than my family! As there's only a £6,000 difference - and 4 kids (including 1 which is in Uni, which is EXPENSIVE) There's no way that family deserves it and we don't!

Kathryn
I hate this stupid system! Loads of my friends are getting EMA and i think it's EXTREMELY unfair to those who don't. The scheme is up and running so that kids who's parent's 'cannot afford' to give them money, end up with a possible £30 a week! I get a quarter of that money a week, and i have to work for it! I get absolutely no money from my parents, although my friends who get EMA get at least £5 a week from their parents! So, my parent's earn £36,000 a year together. But how much of that is going to taxes? A lot, that's how much. My parent's have to borrow money off me that i've worked hard for so that we can make ends meet. Thus leaving me absolutely poor. I am so angry about all this.

kat
hey i reckon its a gd idea to have ema, cos i like travel a long way to college everyday, to do da course i wanna do. an its costs me like £25 a week, so dat £30 pays for me to go.

jack
get rid of all benifits -end of, and help the people who really need it, normal working class families with proper jobs, families that contyribute to society, the elderly and disabled (as in properly disabled-not i smoked myself to lung cancer disabled) y'all hear me?

tom
this country is going into a crisis, everyone or no-one should get it. thats why when iv'e left school im moving to germanyless taxes, cleaner, none of this if you don't work-we'll give you free money dooda.

Sophie Hall 16
I think the system is ridiculous. I work a damn sight harder than most of the people in my year, I get every single piece of homework in on time and every essay deadline is met. I don't go out drinking on the streets or cause any sort of trouble yet I'm the one who doesn't benefit from staying on at college. They wonder how kids are getting money for alcohol and knives? from the government's bloody EMA is how. I only turned 16 the first week into college as I was moved up a year in primary school, because of this there were no jobs available by the time I was able to work - leaving me with no money to buy folders or even paper. I don't get money I need for college (bus fare alone is £15 a week) despite having 100% attendance from the start of term and meeting all of my targets. My mum and dad definitely can't afford to give me £30 a week and because of my age I can't even find a part-time job. Considering we are the future voters, I think the Government should think very carefully about how they treat the younger generations.

Zoe Wright
its not bribery. its so that intelligent and studious young people can afford to travel to and from college and can afford materials! :D

Tom Wright
I think its purely ridculous. This is yet another example fo our goverment supporting 'a lay back - let the taxpayers pay for it attitidue". Why should legitimate couples who have have earned qualifications in order to achieve a an occupation over £30,0000 be left to stupport parents less qualified earning in the lower bracket....,Its obsurd. Yet another example of a nanny state

joanna
"You have to be aged 17 or over." This is not a fact at all. I startd college in september and my birthday was also in september , nut most of my friends are the youngest in the year so they're not 17 yet and they all get it. you just have to be 16 before 1st september

Jane
I think ema is a good incentive, but need to raise the £30 k barrier, maybe to £35K.. but I thinks its a bit disgusting how some of you on here are trashing those who do get it, these are just 'kids', why dont we worry more about people who abuse the benifet system ie, single parents income support single working tax credits, loads of it goes on by adults claiming to be single when they bloody are not, and living the life of riley at our expense, and that report a benifet cheat telphone number is rubbish, they do nothing, absolutley nothing, I speak from experiance. What about disibilty living allowance, dont start me on that, I knwo of 3 people personally claiming this and have brand new cars given to them, yet can walk better and longer in distance than me. Hmmm, that is what teh gov should be doing looking into all they leeches of society.

Ethan, Laura
WHY DO THEY GET A BONUS?"ITS AN INVENTIVE TO KEEP KIDS IN COLLEGE".RIGHT OKAY...WHERE'S MY BONUS?

Ethan, Laura
I agree with Alan. The scheme is pathetic and is attrocious. This how our government treats its young folk. I am disgusted. I am fuming. I might quit college and go on the doll, see how they like that!

Georgia
EMA is the literal equivalent of robbing from the poor and giving to the rich.

Josh
The system is very unfair, I think it is a good idea to ensure everyone thats wants to can go to college or sixth form. But some people really are getting paid when they don't need it and others who do need it aren't . In my sixth form students can literally be absent as much as they like, and just explain how they where ill, and there EMA is paid. Furthermore what is with the £100 bonuses !!!! I live with my mother and step parent and do not get any allowance. I have a car which costs me a fortune and a social life which is also expensive. in order to support myself I have 2 part time jobs and work every holiday as overtime. I would be able to reduce this to one if I had EMA which would give me more time for revision and studying. Guess no one likes missing out on free money.

Hannah
I find it really really really unfair.I can't get EMA because my parets earn £30,000+ and i dont think the students should be affected by what the parents earn. It makes me actualy angry that most people get paid for sitting in lessons doing the exact same thing as everone else is doing but getting paid for it. Its also irritiating that all the differnt amounts go out because if they didn't do the whole £10 £20 or £30 and just gave everyone ten pounds wouldnt the money be able to get spread across EVERYONE.Because i can't get ema i had to get a job but couldnt handle working along with school becasue im taking subject that demand quite a alot of extra work anyway.So basicly the system is STUPID everone who can't get it finds it meggaly unfair and the way its organised is beyond pathetic. hate it hate it HATE IT!!!sorry actully getting really annoyed now.

Alan
EMA is unfair and is constantly causing annoyance to everyone I know. My parents earm £30,000+ so I don't get to benefit from EMA however the majority of my year get EMA and only use it on buying drinks on the weekend and for clothes. I study music and various instruments outside of school hours so I have no time to get a job and my parents refuse to pay for anything besides my music lessons as they are quite costly. I find the whole system pathetic and feel EMA should be awarded by examining individual cases of applicants and think proof that the money is being spent well should be provided.

Jim
I agree with the people who says the system is unfair even though I can get EMA. I'd be going to college anyway but EMA means I'll be able to buy a laptop next year. This year I'm getting something else. It's just night to see what it's like actually having a little bit of money that isn't just like £5 a week or something so you could barely do more than go the cinema once and not eat there.All it goes on is yearly earnings of the parent which is kind of wrong, I mean if they have like 5 kids it's going to be harder than if they only have one. It wouldn't take much to take that into account but to be honest they may allready for all I know.

Rowan
either get rid of it or everyone should get it if it is encouragement to stay on then all students who stay on should get it my parents make about 45k a year but thats WITHOUT tax, mortgage, bill, car insurance, etc people who make 14,000 and say they can afford to have nice things must either live in a council house or have a low mortgage because my family has almost no money our boilers been broken for months can't afford to fix it but if i got ema i could save up and help to pay for one just cos someones parents make over 30,000 it doesn't mean they actually get that much after all is said and done.

emma
i get ema and i use the money to buy things for college. i dont have job as they are really hard to find at the moment, so the money i recieve is a big advantage. i agree that ema helps students and doesnt cause any problems.

Chris Watson
The comments which complain that a household with a £30 000+ income dont give pocket money to children-that is down to meanness on the parents' side, and is not due to the government.

Mike
I was refused EMA even though I had to pay £25 pounds a week just in bus fare to get to college, whereas my friend, whose parents are split up, and has £3000 in the bank given to him by his father, recieves £30 pounds a week. Plus absolutely ridiculous bonuses of £100 and spends them mostly on computer games.

naomi
it sounds like alot of people are jelous i have a baby a full time job and full time college i work nights and go to college in the day if it wasnt for ema i wud struggle with child care payments

David Bruce
I feel that it is really unfair. I think that they are trying to encourage "equal opportunities" by compeltely creating inequalities between groups of people! People who recieve EMA get FREE money, where as people who do not have to work for it, it is compeltely unfair and wrong.

[email protected]
I THINK IT IS VERY GOOD IDEA IS IS NOT CAUSING ANY PROBLEM I AM NO RECEIVING IT I AM AN INTERNATIONAL STUDENT I WON,T I AM ALIGIBLE YO GET IT

sam
i just came accross this site and dont even know if anyone looks at it but i think ema is rubbish and a waste of money i am going to start 6th form next year and i will not get it but my friend who lives round the corner and has more things than i do will get it it is a stupid system to bribe children to get an education is stupid.

v No v
Your just ljealous because you don;t get it, we never forced you to get a job did we? 8-)

Get rid of EMA
Just because my parents are hard working and managing to earn £30,000 a year doesnt mean they give me money! I have to work every other night after college, to get money to buy neccesities and driving lessons, but this comes easy to £30 a week! I wanted to go on an expedition they were having at college but as it was £3000 (£35 a month) i simply couldnt afford it. However, people on EMA can.. how is this fair??If they get rewards for doing well so should everyone. I dont see how anyone can think this is fair.. maybe people who are on EMA should get a job like the rest of us! You dont even need £30 a week, obviously tehy are going to do better in college because they have got the time to study. JUST GET A JOB

lulu
some parts arnt fair i get ema £30 per week but i had to have 2 weeks off sick because i had bronchitus and collage wouldnt let me have my ema because of those 2 weeks eventhough i had 2 sicknotes telling them that i should be abbsent even though on the we site it says with a valid sick note you can have ema.

Anonymous
EMA for me although I would usually receive 30 pounds a week is actually causing more trouble than it's worth. This year EMA is even harder to claim because my college has a new rule where we must stay in 8.40am - 3/4pm, even if you don't have any lessons that day. It assumes that while your at home you don't actually do any coursework and due to sleeping problems I have I usually miss the 8.40 - 9 registration period. I just wish EMA never existed as all my parents ask me now is "Did you get your card signed?" and I've had problems sleeping for a couple years now.My parents no longer trust me and when I know I've blown this week's EMA my eagerness to learn just dissipates and this happens the majority of the term. I do feel sorry for those who receive less or do not qualify for EMA and also believe that the system needs a shakedown.In other colleges around my area they do not have this rule as far as I can tell which makes it easier for them to qualify for their EMA which is yet another fact that's unfair.EMA may be called *Education* Maintenance Allowance but it's largely seen as a bit of extra cash to spend down the pub or buy video games. Colleges apply rules that reflect this.

Kate
I am 18 years old and I think its absolutely ridiculous that kids are being paid/bribed with this EMA rubbish to go to school, that is where they are suppose to be! Its also very unfair the way the go about it giving it only to students with a single parent family or low income family. I have seen the figures and these children/college students get more money than people who are on the job seekers benefits looking for work this cannon in any way shape or form be right! These kids don’t have bills to pay and shouldn’t have mouths to feed and in two weeks they would of got £60 and in two weeks people claiming job seekers allowance only get £45 plus they also get this ridiculous £100 bonus which myself and other hard working tax payers are paying for! Something has to be done about this, it is not right for these kids to receive money for going to school its truly disgusting.

Tom
All you people who complain about not getting it cos your parents earn over the limit and cant afford to give you stuff and so on... well you should try living in a family where the income is about £14'000 a year, it isnt easy but I still manage to get nice things and EMA helps out alot. If me and my 2 brothers manage to get things that we want on that income, you whos parents earn over £30'000 a year dont know what you are talking about and should stop slating EMA. EMA is a good idea.

matt
Wake up EMA look how many comments you have had against you. Just because my parents earn over does not mean that i see any of it. I have a night shift job as it is the only time i can afford to lose and i still cant afford college life. 4/5 days a week i cant afford lunch and with the lack of sleep i am exhausted 24/7. SORT IT OUT EMA!!!!

Leigh
Its unfair way that victimizes people who are from hard working families.My Is the only worker in my family. While he earns well and quite a bit more then 30k we have a family of 7 and spend £200 a week on food minimum!! Im a sixth form student who is in school 5 days a week so have no time for a job, while those who do get money because their parents dont or "CANT BE BOTHERED TO WORK"I am also forced to spend £3.10 a day on bus fairs as i lost my right to free travel after moving to 6th form even though i still attend same school.I thing it should be based on a induvidual person rather then "house income"

kathryn
i don't get ema and think its very unfair! Why should some people get payed just to turn up to college every day when others do anyway with or wothout the money. I dont recieve ema but i do not get 30 quid a week from my parents. I work around 8 hours per week and dont get as much money as I would if i got ema and im doing A levels. My best friend gets ema and doesnt have a job but gets twice as much moneya as I do from EMA. Those getting ema have more time to study or do coursework as they do not need to spend time working for their money and even if there parents dont work, this does not mean they aren't capable of getting a job!

everyone or no-one!
The EMA is sending out a very bad message to kids, saying that if you come from an under unprivileged background then you will always be subsidized by someone else. Children's ambition should be to work hard and get the rewards later in life not just turn up and get paid. Personally I think the EMA will have a larger effect of people leaving college and signing on as they will become used to the government handing them money for doing nothing. It will create lazy bums. Laissez Faire.

Alex
If you ask me, the limit should be raised from £30k to at least £45k. I live in a household with an income over £150k a year and I only get £25 per week so it is stupid to expect families on just £30k to be able to give their children £30 per week.

k
very unfair system. You could own Buckingham Palace and the crown jewels, have an income of under £30,000 and you would be eligable for ema. We are a middle income family who's daughter has worked hard and gained very good grades but has been refused ema because our income is slightly over the £30,000 but consideration is not taken into account how many adults are being supported by that one family salary. Our daughter will have to work part-time in order to pay her bus fare, which will now be adult fare and buy any books she may require.

kink
I agree with both sides of the EMA some people geuinely need it , but i think it should e assed on things such a s amount of children and morgage and how parents money gets spent . I have friends on EMa who 'only' went to american with school (1000) ibiza (750) and the britshin sea side , for each of these holidays she 'needed' new clothes . Myself , my mom earns 40 grand , yeh its alot , but shes works the max number of hours allowed , i hardley ever see her and we cant afford to go away , like many people i ask , where is the justice ? .If people are to recive money they should get it in vocuher , i.e food transport equipment , or atleast made to prove what they spend there money on

Lisa
Very unfair, my parents may earn over.. but they have kids and cant afford to give me dinner money and college money. I live 2.8 miles aways from college, you have to live 3 miles to get a bus pass. It is not fair, i am one of the only students in my class that doesnt recieve it, and it would really help me out. I have to work part time in order to get me to college. But that doesnt even last.

end it now
i dont get it but i can see it has benefits because i hav a friend who needs it but i also hav two other m8's who dont need it but get it anyway (both hav part time jobs and at least 3 grand each in their savin accounts) and it really pisses me off because they are rubbin it in my face constantly and it is causin resentment.

Dave
I think its extremely unfair! my parents just earn over the limit and i know for a fact they can't afford to give me up to £30 a week. I also have a twin brother so thats £60 a week! our income doesn't mean we can afford all this...i know that my parents struggle with money. I understand where the people who get it are coming from and yes there are people worse of than us but still doesnt mean we get what they get eiva...my parents got good jobs to earn a high income but no matter how high it is they can't give me, my brother and my sister money all the time! i think EMA is a joke and it needs to be dealt with or atleast how they do it needs to be changed!!! I really do hope something happens to change they way EMA is dealt with. Also look at all the people who have commented on here but still nothing gets done and i know there are a lot more web sites with the same sort of talks on them!

rhiann!
agree with peter! EMA is a total joke. i'm 17 and working my butt of every saturday and sunday. i go 2 college all week as well. some of my friends can live off thier EMA as it is just as much as i get paid! it sucks! we have just moved house and even though my mum dad are over the allownce thing, they cant afford to give me £30 a week because all the money goes to the house. some people dont agreee with them not giving me the money but i dont expect them to beacuse its my room they a decorating and im living in this house. i think everybody should be allowed EMA or nobody at all. . . totally unfair!!! x

Steff
I HATE EMA WITH A PASSION :|

loz
it is incredibly unfair!it is totally wrong to say our parents who earn more than £30,000 "provide for us"yes in most respects they do, but my parents were just over 30k and now my dad has lot his job they tell me its based on last years figures!last years figures?? thats rubbishplus i feel when people get £100 bonus for doing their exams, are they saying i dont work as hard as them?i do all my coursework on time, and i attend college everyday so why cant i get paid for it?total rubbish.

Sarah
I think EMA should be available to everyone. The income in my household is 32.000 so im not entitled to EMA. People dont take into account how many people are in the household so its not even like theres money left over for going out or clothes, so really Ema is unfair becuase its given to people who's rentz earn under 30810.

john
i get 30 a week and it helps loads we have low income have part time job too but its really needed

Tina
By the way. Im not saying EMA should be stpooed... im just saying taht people should be treated the same and we should all get the responsibility to mamage money because why should we be deprived of this maturity!

Tina
Its totally unfair because my parents earn over 30,000, and therefore I miss out.. however i do not receive extra benefits from them to make up for this, I just miss out. Also, they have 5 children and therefore have lots of extra costs , including atleast 2 children in university at the same time for a period of 8 years. Why isnt this taken into consideration because just because people earn over 30,000 doesnt mean they have more financial advantages.!!! Also most of my friends will receive this, this is a social divide- why sould we be divided and treated different just because of our parents earnings!

Caleb Moran
I've wrote a page rant about this - its so unfair why should people get 3x as much as I do and I work for it?

holly T
I believe that an ema is just to stop britain getting low employment rates in people our age. I think it should be given to people who work hard instead of based on income as this does not improve their work ethic but demoralises those who bother to work hard. I find this unfair as most of the people who don't get an ema are deprived of money that should be rightfully theirs. Most these people who get ema don't even spend it on educational supplies but iPods etc.

Perry
I believe that the EMA is just a way of the government to keep unemployment rates low in people our age. Some of the people soulfully don't deserve it, some obviously do. But the fact on the matter is why should the population waste their tax money on these people not willing to work. They should instead have a system instead based on the performance of pupils to motivate everyone to earn their share of the money.But with the labour government in control, they would never even think of doing this as they are too ignorant

jenny baby
Just because I dont get EMA doesn't mean i scive off lessons . . . I can't afford to miss lessons else i get behind. I think the people who get EMA are sterotyping the ones you don't. We are not all just posh freaks. I am going to upto 20 grand in debt afta uni -my parents won't pay, I won't get goverment support. My friend on the other hand, is getting goverment support (2700 a year) for uni and her parents pay the rest (even though they earn only '£7000 - with 2 kids in uni how can they do this????) EMA and Uni grants is encouraging people to scam the system which is unfair. If EMA was abolished then everbody could probably go to school for free. instead of spending over 9 billion on the olympics why don't they use the money where it matters?

jenny hyslop
my household income is over £30,000 Im not allowed a job (else i get kicked out of home basically) I get £20 a month from mum/dad to buy all my clothes, pressies for friends etc. My friend on the other hand gets the full £30 whack. Her parents pay for her to do everything, (though how they manage on an'income' of £7000 a year god knows. This system is missuesd and unfair, it should be everybody or no-one.

Paul
I just finished school, I had to get two jobs because I didn't receive EMA and i'm now at uni doin law.If money is such a problem get urself a few jobs like I had to do!

joanne
i think EMA is totally unfair, it doesn't take into account peoples curcumstances, such as how much is going out, but only focuses on how much is coming in. I live in a nice 'well-off' area, but i have done all my life, house prices and manic and my family therefore hardly have any money left over to spend on anything luxury due to the fact they need to stay in the area for their jobs and my siblings schooling. EMA is unfair.!!

anonymous
All you posh rich kids don't understand the need that kids whos parents get less than £30,000 a year have for the money. We wouldn't be able to get further education were it not for this allowance. Shouldn't everyone get an equal chance in life despite your parents' decisions. Without the EMA surely the rich-poor gap would get worse and we would live in an utterly divided society with both extremes. Would this be beneficial to the economy? NO. Therefore EMA should be supported and upheld or the basis on which we built our country and free market economy would collapse. Everyone deserves an equal chance in life!!!

James
I feel the scheme discriminates as i have to work on a saturday for £30 a week, where as peers in my college class are just given the money for being bothed to turn up to there lessons. How many students parents give them £30 a week, therefore how is this fair?

Arron
i think your all wrong!! im entitled to EMA but i dnt recieve it because not all the forms have been recieved yet. People that get EMA arent going to slate it because they're getting tax free money and people that dont get it are going to slate it because they dont think its fair! i'm still getting an education without a problem and im the one that should get EMA! You all need to take a look at the EMA from the opposite side and realise that its not EMA thats get you an education it's you that get that!

Harry
I agree with you Yasmin-I think this system should be got rid of as it is incredibly unfair.

peter
EMA a joke, i been to college 2 years and not recieved a penny because of my household income of 34.000 a year ,but that does'nt mean my parents give me that and tell me to shut lol lyk all kids 17-19 we all lyk to go out to town or tothe local for a couple of pints every week but to do this i have to borrow money of my parents and they expect it bk.ema should be available to everyone that furthered there education at college or 6 form. also next year the same for me with adult learning grants i still wont recieve out i might aswell throw my career away on work at morrison so i can have a life lol haha i might be going over the top abit but it would sort alot of problems ty

Jessica
I can't believe the amount of people slating EMA. If you really were in such a situation as I or the other people who receive EMA are, you would see how helpful it is for us. I do not reveive EMA because my parents are lazy, or because I can't be bothered to get a job. Both of my parents work full time, and my dad works every saturday and sunday just to be able to pay bills and keep food on the table. I rarely get new clothes or expensive things, without EMA I probably would not be able to go to school and get an education, and in response to somebody else, our money is not spent on 'chaved-up cars' maybe you people need to stop stereo-typing people and thinking that only people who want to abuse the system are the ones who receive EMA because you're wrong. Of course there are always going to be those people, but stop tarring everybody with the same brush, and condemning those who only want to receive a good education, and go on to do something with their lives, haven't you got anything better to do?

Danny!!!
Right! . . For the start i recieve EMA. And am glad i do, my parents dont earn alot and if i didnt have EMA then there would be no further education for me !!! it costs me 4 pound a day in busfair to get to college, then around 3 or 4 pounds to get a decent meal that will fill me for the day . . almost everyday i start at 9 and finish later than 5... in all that time if i am late to one lesson or miss one in the morning etc .. i do not recieve that weeks EMA!. out of my EMA i have to pay 10 pound board money as my mum cant afford me living without taking something back! , work it out nearly 8 pound a day JUST to get to college!!! 8 pound a day for 5 days is 40 pounds! i only recieve 30 and it ends up bein 20 with my board money. . . i am now building up a debt with the bank JUST to get myself to college everyday! im now in over 200 pound debt and have nothing to show for it other than a few things learnt!!! Im sick to death of people moaning. . . if i miss a lesson it puts me under more strain as the next week i have to pay 20 pound board ... leaving me 10 pound for a week which is just over a days money needed! i had the flu really bad but couldnt afford to not go to college as it would affect me the week i come back i think if anything all people should get EMA and it should be more than 30 pounds a week . . or atleast there should be free dinners and travel as this would save thousands of students the majority of there money!! Who agrees with me ?

sean
ema is unfair everyone should get it or no one lazy parents who dont work get more money for their kids. and no one i know spends their ema money on things for school they spend it mostly on going out and drinking.

sarah yaxley
i think they shouldnt have ema if only certain students get it. i understand that some parents dont recieve a lot of money but even if they do they may not be able to afford to give their children 30 pound a week. my parents cant afford to give me that much as their are 3 children in the home so have to pay for their needs aswell. i myself do not have a part time job as my college hours have affected that so far so therefore have to ask my parents for money and they cannot afford it. we have just moved into a new house so we have had to have it all refurbished and it has cost a lot. so i really feel quite annoyed about people getting ema as i know that they dont actually spend it on college. some people i know get ema but their parents still give them money for college so they spend their money on other things not to do with college. so they really dont seem to need it do they?

Matt
EMA is a farse....how can you say how much your parents are earning and totally distinguish whether i get EMA or not, same goes for support at university, 2700 a year is given to students who are "poor" now lets define poor....my friend shes "poor" her dad is only a colonel in the british army (look on www.army.mod.uk for a colonels pay bracket) and her mum is a lower bracket job, as they have split up she tells she lives with her mum(she doesnt) and gets an extra 2700 a year, when my parents earn just over 30,000 and cant even afford givin me 270......alos, those people that me and my parents taxes are going towards supporting day in day out, if they cant afford university, how come there parents can afford to buy chavved up cars and sky television....?? a question to be answered

katie williams
my parents earn over the limit for ema but that doesnt mean they can afford to give me £30 a week. with 3 children all in secondary school and out of catchment have to be £35 a week to send them to school with ema it would mean we could go to school for FREE. i no people whos parents have bought the £3000 first car send them on all the school trips but still claim £30 a week, surely somethings not right? i have to get a part-time job to help my parents out and pay for anything i want/need

robert hale
i do not recieve ema, bt desperately need it. i have a small part time job that doesnt pay well, works out at £30 a week. and because i am working i have less time to do essays, cwk etc... but i cannot afford to drop the job. there are people of my age who spend EMA on drink, a lot of them spend it on drugs. i know people getting it and they are extremely rich. theyre parents retired early after making a mint, and they are on £30 a week. some people whose parents are divorced cheat the system, its totally unfair. it should be made available to everyone or no one!

Undisclosed
It isn't unfair to those who don't get it, because their parents/guardians earn money to provide for them. I get it, and if i didn't, and asked my parents for money to get something, they simply wouldn't be able to afford it, not even the slightest things, whereas people that don't get it say their parents don't give them money anyway, but it extreme circumstances they would, and my parents just wouldn't be able to. EMA is a good idea, and it works, and it is very useful, and it also has pros and cons on both sides. People that don't get it can freely dos from lessons when they don't feel like going, and people who get EMA just can't do that, not even once a week, if they are to get their money, so they are much more constrained than people who do not receieve EMA payments.

pete
I would agree with EMA if it was given in some form of vouchers so that school equipment culd be purchased rather than alcohol, shoes and other non essentials

SD
What stops the children of lower income families getting a part time job - like my daughter has to. We are breeding a two tier society the so called low income poor and the overtaxed hardworking middle class family. I certainly don't think that our joint income of £35,000 makes us rich. Why can't poor kids get a job too and save us all some tax as well as giving them valuable work experience rather than being dependant upon benefits.

chris
i recieve 30pound a week, because my mom or dad dont work due to my mother being disabled and my dad having a major accident last year. I feel it is ludicrus that people are slating the EMA system. How am i going to be able to afford my suit and clothes for my new 6th form (sandwell academy), i also am learning to drive to try and save some money i have to get off my mom and dad to get to school, pay for my food etc....with just 2 driving lessons a week that is 40pound, so EMA doesnt cover that....fair enough about the driving lessons they are not necessary as such, but i really would be stuck without EMA, i am looking to get a job aswell, its not like im being lazy and just recieving ema. I get up for school at 7.ooam and don't get home til 5.30pm, no please tell me when im doing that all week why i shouldnt recieve payment?

anonomous
its ages 16! NOT 17. well done

dominic
People who earn over 30k a year are not entitled to ema, which is fair. People like lou who state 'ema should be given to all or to none' are just hypocrites. To deal with their lack of ema they wish to take ema from people who really, really need it? i live with my mum who struggles to pay the bills and the £30 ema i get a week really helps out, and you wish you would take this away because you yourself are not entitled to ema? The money i use to buy food to put in the cupboard? Allthough i can understand where your coming from with the people who just use it to go drinking etc. Most of the people in my endz are on ema and some just waste it on stuff like blaze but there are people like me who really need it.

James
My Dad gets more than £30,000 a year but that has to spent on 5 children. But someone who could be receiving EMA may have parents bringing in les than £30,000 but it only has to be split between 1 child. Where is the justice in that?

Hugh Jass
Whoever gets the EMA is a SCUMbag

Becky
I think EMA is totally unfair. It should not be just for people whose parents have an income below £30,000 a year. Everyone should be entitled to it or no-one. I am not entitled to it as my parents work hard all day and earn over the £30,00 limit but I have a friend whose parents cannot be bothered to work because of the benefits they get from the government, and so therefore she can claim £30 a month. It's just not fair! What's wrong with the government in this country?

Nicola
I think this is encouraging bad behaviour in schools and colleges, people are being lazy and staying on forfurther education to get paid insted of getting a job, because theycan have a laugh and mess around in school or college, this then has an effect on students that are going to school to get good grades!

Nicola
So becase my parents have worked hard and earned enough money to bring their children up in the best way possible now i have to suffer? I'm 17, my parents should no longer have to support me through education, my friends can afford more than me and they are getting ema, simply because even though my parents earn just over 30,000 a year, they cannot support me enough! EMA is a con! My friends get it and spend it on alcohol and clubbing. Most of them leave it in the bank and use it for a holiday evry summer, pathetic idea, goverment needs to get a grip and treat everyone fairly.

nathan
i think ema is unfair it is a stupid idea that ppl who earn over 30k a year shouldnt get it as they pay more tax.i dont receive the 30 a week as my parents earn to much but when would i get 30 pound a week off my parents.

nathan
i think ema is unfair it is a stupid idea that ppl who earn over 30k a year shouldnt get it as they pay more tax.i dont receive the 30 a week as my parents earn to much but when would i get 30 pound a week off my parents.

Jackie
not all students who get it abuse it, My daughter gets EMA and it all goes on materials for her course and meals at college she does not smoke or drink and she earns extra to buy her clothes, yes the system is wrong, there should be no course fees and no cost for books and materials instead of EMA, that way all students are treated fairly and no one can abuse it and it would work out a lot more economical for the government instead of handing £30 a week to thousands of students, my daughter does not expect to get paid for going to college, that is her choice but at the moment without the EMA she would not be able to afford her course and would be forced to drop out so until the Government come up with a better scheme we are grateful for every penny.

Yasmin
i do not receive E.M.A. even i i was eligible i would not stoop so low as to receive it. It is absurd, Unfair and unjustifiable. The question is; what can we do to stop it?

Jim
i dont like the EMA very much, my parents work hard and i recieve nothing, while others claiming of benefits are entitled to it. my mum cant realli afford to pay for trains everyday which is £5.30 every day!! as shes got alot of money to pay out this year...so the EMA should be entitled 2 every1 or no1.. full stop!

Hannah
I miss out on ema its terrible , my friends are saving up there ema money to buy a car , I have loads of expenses and miss out on doing lots of things because I do not have enough money to do college and othes .. It should be given to everyone with achievement / attendence rules stricter .. Its morally wrong .. I need extra finances , so im out looking for a full time part time Job which is going to make my a level passes lower because im working alot more .

Liss
give them more money to waste. I cant even afford to go out on weekends as my £10 pounds a week goes on other things I need. I think either we all get EMA or none of us at all, the money could go to schools to buy the quipment we need for us this is the only way it can be fair.

Louisa
I am 17 and attend full time college, but as my household income exceeds £30,810 limit i do not recieve EMA. I do not believe this is fair as i dont recieve any financial support off my parents and have a part time job just to allow me to go to college, this pays for my bus fare and lunches. I really dont believe the system is fair, to reward one person for going to college just because there household income is lower, EMA should be given to all or no one. Yes EMA may help some students but what about the students being excluded it isnt a nice feeling to know you attend college and do exactly the same amount of work as others but they get paid for it while you are left to struggle on. It does cause problems and causes a sense of exclusion, unfairness and even resentment between students!!

seema
i think ema should be abolished because its not fair on the people who dont get it and also students whos parents earn money in "other" ways still get the 10-30£ a week which is totally unfair. i think it shud either be abolished or all students should get something be it £5 or £2 thats more fair.

samuel
to be honest most people do not even spend £100 on school equipment in a year. to be honest it is unfair as those who recieve less than 30k are able to recive this money benifit. i think these things should be taken into acount. 1. criminal record-those who have already been in trouble with the police should be limited. 2.GCSE result-to be honest it is not really hard to get 5 Cs and above. those who get higher results get more money. 3. progression if student are achieving their grades money should be deducted.

Lou
i think EMA is very very unfair on those who do not get it. A friend of mine receives it, and goes out every friday night getting drunk. Whereas i need the money to be able to actually afford to get to school. i have to stay at friends house after college until my mum can pick me up, because i am unable to afford £5 bus journeys everyday. EMA is in theory a good idea, but like communism, it doesnt work in practise. The system gets heavily abused, and thoses who actaully need it are left in the cold because they are 'rich'. If EMA is to be given it should be given to all, or non at all

Brad
I think it is disgusting, just because my parents work hard, and have got a stable job, I am not entitled to any allowances from EMA. Wheras people who are unemployed, and do not have a valid reason not to work, can receive £30 a week free, the government is becoming so biased against certain socio-economic groups, and assume that they do not need extra financial help. It is granted that many unemployed people have reasons for not working, such as injury etc. and may need money, although this should stand for everyone, because people who earn more, pay more in taxes anyway, therefore they are entitled to something back

Emma
Sure my mum earns over £30k but like hell is she gona give me £30 a week, i am trying to find a job but finding it hard - when i do i'm going to have to earn my money with a job as well as study at school! Just looking at income is totally unfair as it doesn't take anything into account, the fact that she is a single parent for 1 thing and that she has to single handedly look after 2 kidz that spend loadz of money. People from worse of backgrounds get EMA's and therefore end up with an incentive to going to school, where's my incentive??? One of my friends, who's parents are separated gets £20 a week EMA even though she gets 'pocket money' off both her parents seperately. Her £100 bonus at the end of the year came in very useful for our school ball - she bought a dress. Me i had to live with £25 which took me long enough to save up. It's NOT like my family are rich! i need money like any other teenager, its not fair that some get it handed to them 'on a plate' just because their parents are in slightly lower paid jobs than my mum! My mate's dad earns just £35k ish a year but he has 5 sons and 1 daughter, that money doesn't go far with that many kids.

Lisa Phillips
I do not think that the EMA should be based on what parents earn. Surely it is the child that is earning the money, NOT the parents. The money given to these children will not be spent on education it will purely be spent on clothes, shopping, alcohol or cigarettes. Why should my son go to college and work and others go to college, get paid, what incentive is there for my son. Who says that because we earn over 30,000 we are better off, a load of rubbish!!! My kids do not run round in Adidas or designer gear!!! I think this is a totally unfair system and I will not let my son go on this course out of principal

Marcus Stevenson
I think the idea of EMA is totally unfair. Why should people whos families earn below £30,000 a year be allowed to get up to £30 a week, but not anyone else? I, myself, will not be getting EMA when i return to 6th form next year. However most of my friends will be. I know that this will not apply to everyone, but some people may just go to school, get there £30 a week and pass none of their A Levels, and someone who passes them all, and doesn't get EMA will not be rewarded at all. Tell me how this is fair?

Marcus Stevenson
I think the idea of EMA is totally unfair. Why should people whos families earn below £30,000 a year be allowed to get up to £30 a week, but not anyone else? I, myself, will not be getting EMA when i return to 6th form next year. However most of my friends will be. I know that this will not apply to everyone, but some people may just go to school, get there £30 a week and pass none of their A Levels, and someone who passes them all, and doesn't get EMA will not be rewarded at all. Tell me how this is fair?

Janet Kangley
My daughter does not receive any EMA payment. She is at college with students whos parents are separated/divorced but their mum and dads income is well over the £30,000. My husband and I who earn £31000 are now giving our daughter £120 per month. The same amount as the rest of her friends. This then takes our joint income down to less than £30000 ! Our daughter is trying to understand why people who do not really want to be at college end up getting paid for their time spent there. This system is very unfair and parents in similar circumstances to us who just manage to earn enough thro hard work, end up being penalised. Just shows that honesty is NOT always the best policy.

Dominic North
EMA is an absolute farce in my opinion; mainly becasue it does not take into account any of the following things: 1. Families with more than one child are not viewed differently than single-child families, 2.Students whose parents are divorced can abuse the system by citing the parent with lowest income for ema allowances, whilst still recieving money from both parents. 3.Students with part time jobs are not viewed any differently, and as 'kim' says below, "One girl on the EMA website said because i get £30 a week i dont need a job so i can concentrate on my studies. I cant concentrate on my studies as i have to work for my £30." 4. MOST IMPORTANTLY I feel is that if the allowance is based on the PARENTS' INCOME, then why does the money go to the child - who will in many cases spend the money on cigarrettes and clothes instead of college material? 5. The sytem of giving money to some families is EXPECTING other parents to fund their children by the same amount, or to even up the difference, this is in effect lowering the parents' income and is infact masquerading as another tax on top of what is already being payed. Due to the higher earnings of these parents, the standard income tax is going to be higher in these cases anyway. 6. The thing that appauls me most is the £100 bonuses simply for reaching target grades. How is this fair? How is this related to family earnings? If it is an incentive to make students work harder then it is clearly DISCRIMINATING against students from higher earning families and implying that students from lower earning families are lazy and need motivation where other students do not. It makes no sense at all to me. Maybe the government needs to sort its ideas out and rethink the policy. If money is to be awarded to students, not parents, then money should be awarded to ALL students on a weekly basis. If £100 bonuses are going to students who meet their target grades then ALL students should recieve them as this is in NO WAY related to family earnings and is completely discriminatory and nonsensical.

Sue
I agree that it is unfair for those who don't receive it, but I get £30 a week and this has made a considerable difference to my life. My parents would never be able to afford to give this to me so now I am able to afford to pay for all my own driving lessons because of EMA. EMA is also a good incentive for getting out of bed in the morning! Without it I don't think that most students would be so motivated to come to sixth form. I am very grateful for EMA and I don't know what I would do without it.

matthew edwards
Ema is good as it helps pay for school supplies and you are able to set aside some money for the future for university fees or travelling during a gap year. Ema is good but it is a lot of hassle in a lot of schools as the schools system doesn't always work.

Alexandra
No I dont get EMA, BUT I think it is really unfair as it is not our money it is our parents money and they are hardly going to give us money at the start of every week, and why should they it is there hard earned money. So I think every one should be entitled to EMA if they choose to stay on atschool. Plus people who do get EMA have part - time jobs, I dont.

kim
I think that it is totally unfair. I do not get a single penny. I do not recieves £30 per week from my parents!!! So i have to work for my money. One girl on the EMA website said because i get £30 a week i dont need a job so i can concentrate on my studies. I cant concentrate on my studies as i have to work for my £30. My mum and dad tryed to get a well payed job instead of just getting any job and claiming the difference!!! My mum has to do a second job to earn extra money as we do not get any money for free by just claiming it! This also means we pay more tax so the non-workers can get more money. my friends all get it except for one. one girl said we can all go shopping with our christmas bonus' which is £100. i just said that not all people get it. I could not ask my mum for that much money! also she went the bank and had recieved all her EMA at the same time and got £400 in one go. This is ridiculus as the government must think my mum and dad have that just floating around in the bank that they are able to give me. most students use their ema for clothes not for study equipment. My friends mum and dad are divorced but still together and as a result of this she gets £30 a week but still financial support from both parents. however my parents have vowed to stay together for our sake but i am getting penalised moneywise as a result of this. if my parents were separated i would receive money but as they are still married i dont receive anything. the ema system is also wrong as they dont consider personal situations. My friends has 6 brothers and sisters who are all extremely clever, and attend school and are in every school music concert, but do not recieve anything. But a single child family who doesnt contribute to school at all and is just bribed to stay on at sixth form as they will receive money get ema. it is not fair !!!!!!!!

Hannah Bassill
I recieve £30 p/w from EMA and have friends that don't recieve it (due to their parents earning over £30K), yet still need it. There is a sense of resentment between some pupils. Though I percieve this initiative as bribary by the government, I still appreciate the money as it goes towards bus fares, art materials for my course etc. (as I was planning to do my A levels anyway). The scheme could be improved by assessing individual cases, rather than the generalisation promoted by the £30K limit. I realise this would take longer, but at least this way, the pupils who need it are sure to recieve it.

Dean Hawkins
I receive it, but i still believe it's an un-controlled enducement of force rather than recognition.

Katie Mulliner
I am not eligable for EMA but it is wrong to assume my parents are 'rich' and can give me £30 a week. They cant. I have to work for any money i get as well as attending college full time. When i started college, a lot of people who can get EMA actually quit their part time jobs or considerably reduced their hours. It is good that they can do this to concentrate on their studies but unfair that those who do not get EMA can not afford to do this.

rachel boocock
its causing me mager problems cause i have to pay 40 pound to get a passport just to get 30 pound a week

Charlotte Dawson
I am really fuming that people that are hard worker's with a middle income are penalised. The EMA should be for everyone. It will be demoralsing more so, if you don't receive anything.

Ben Slater
Many of the people who receive EMA have enough money to not need a part-time job. I do not receive EMA and have to work to support myself through sixth form. Is this fair? I beleive that EMA should only be for the very poorest, the rest should have to support themselves.

Helen
I feel that the EMA hasn't been thought through well enough. There are alot of people who don't need EMA who are recieving it. An example can include a split family, where both parents are paying for the student, but on paperwork, it only takes into account one household, so the wealthy student gets extra money. On the other hand, as household income is being assessed, people who need it can't get it because there may be people currently in the household that brings the income up too high, such as parents new boyfriends, when in all practicility they won't pay towards their upkeep.

GILROY
THIS IS AN EXTREMELY UNFAIR BENEFIT. MY HUSBAND AND I EARN JUST OVER 30,000 AND CANNOT AFFORD TO GIVE OUR DAUGHTER THIS SORT OF MONEY BUT WE FEEL WE ARE CONTRIBUTING TO THE INCOME OF HER FRIENDS WHO ALL APPEAR TO BE DRIVING AROUND IN CARS! WE CANNOT AFFORD THIS. IT IS TOTALLY OUT OF ORDER AND IS BEING ABUSED.