Weekly Payments
Education Maintenance Allowances are available for 16 to 18 year olds remaining in full time education.
Whether a student receives an EMA, and how much it is will depend on the parent/s, carer/s income. EMAs are intended to help with the cost of your studies and travel to college – they are not intended for living expenses. Forms to apply for EMA are available from the student's school, South Downs College or www.direct.gov.uk/ema.
Once EMA has been applied for, a letter of entitlement will be sent out, if the application is successful. The student will need to bring this letter of entitlement to Student Services where it will be signed by the student and a member of College staff, who will keep half of the Contract for our records and return the other half to the student. We cannot register the student for his/her weekly EMA payment without this.
Weekly payments are made in arrears; this means the student will usually receive their payment on a Friday for the previous week’s attendance. No regular weekly payments will be made during College holidays; these will be made on the Friday of the week the student returns.
Weekly payments are only made if you have attended all the classes on the student's agreed timetable (unless an absence has been authorised) and that you maintain a high standard of behaviour and effort.
Bonus Payments
If a student is in receipt of a weekly EMA payment he/she will also be eligible for two bonuses of £100 in the academic year, payable in January and July. In order for a student to receive a bonus the College will have to confirm that the student is not only attending classes but also making satisfactory progress towards learning goals, as laid out in learning agreements and/or Individual Learning Plans, which are agreed between the student and Tutor.
It is vital that any appeals against a weekly decision or bonus payment are made before 31 July of the current academic year. The EMA system is closed after this date and it will not be possible to back date payments after this date.
Appeals Procedure
The College’s Appeals procedure is in accordance with guidance from relevant Government departments. If, following discussion with the Tutor or a member of Student Services staff, the student and/or parent/s, carer/s still disagree with a decision to stop a weekly payment the following procedure should be followed:
- The student and/or his/her parent/s, carer/s should make an appeal in writing to the Head of Student Services & Marketing.
- The student will be given the opportunity to present his/her case in person and to have a parent/carer present (who may state the case on your behalf). The Head of Student Services & Marketing may also discuss with the Tutor and/or other members of staff to ascertain the reason for non-payment.
- A decision on whether or not to reinstate the payment will be made within 3 working days (or, if you request a personal hearing, within 1 working day of the hearing) and the student and/or parent/s, carer/s will be written to informing them of this decision.
- The student is only entitled to one appeal hearing for a specific non-payment and the decision of this appeal will be final.
Adult Learning Grant
If you are a student aged 19+ and are taking your first Level 2 or Level 3 qualification and are not in receipt of an out of work benefit you may be eligible to receive an Adult Learning Grant which could pay up to £30 per week. Please contact Student Services for further information.