Education Maintenance Allowance

Free school meals and school clothing grants

Are you aged 16 to 19 years and staying on at school? Are you taking part in a learning agreement? You could be eligible for a weekly allowance of £30 per week.

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Apply for EMA for academic year 2024 to 2025 (August 2024 to July 2025)

Please note: Scottish Ministers reserve the right to change the terms of the scheme. This includes payment amounts, eligibility criteria and how payments are made. To date, Scottish Ministers have not yet confirmed the terms of the scheme for school session 2024 to 2025.

What is an Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA)?

EMA is a weekly allowance of £30 which is paid on a 2-weekly basis in arrears. Payments are made directly into the young person's bank account; if you do not have a bank account you will be required to open one. EMA may be available to young people who are in full-time education or take part in Learning Agreements after they reach the statutory school-leaving age of 16 years. EMA awards are payable according to the total taxable income of your household. The income threshold is £24,421 for one dependent child and £26,884 for households with two or more dependent children.

If you are an independent or care-experienced young person you may be eligible for an EMA award without having to provide evidence of household income. What do we mean by care-experienced?

If you have ever been looked after by a local authority (council).
Types of care-experience include but are not limited to, foster care, kinship care, looked after at home, residential care.
If you are living independently in receipt of Income Support or Contributions-Based Employment Support and Allowance.

EMA can be paid for a maximum of 3 years (4 years for vulnerable young people who may need additional time to further their potential).

Eligibility for EMA

You must have 100% attendance of your agreed timetable at school.
You should be taking part in a learning agreement if you have left school and are engaging with a Next Step Coach at a base.
In the academic session 2024 to 2025, your date of birth must fall on or between 1 March 2005 and 28 February 2009.

You can also find more information in our handbook or via the Scottish Government's EMA guide.

For a full award

If the young person is aged 16 years on or before 30 September 2024, they may be eligible for an EMA from August 2024. If the application is received after 30 September 2024 the award will commence from the date of receipt of the application.

For a part award

If the young person is aged 16 years on or between 1 October 2024 and 28 February 2025, they can submit their application prior to their 16^th birthday. However, if their application is successful, they will not be entitled to payments until 6 January 2025. If the application is received after 28 February 2025, the award will commence from the date of receipt of the application. Payments will only be made for the weeks where attendance requirements have been met.

For College students, EMA information and application forms will be available direct from the college. Perth and Kinross Council only deals with EMAs for students staying on at school or have a Next Step Coach and are attending a base.

Frequently Asked Questions

When can I apply?

If you are aged 16 years on or before 30 September 2024, you may be eligible for an EMA from the beginning of school term (full award). If the application is received after 30 September 2024, the award will commence from the date of receipt of the application.

If you are aged 16 years on or between 1 October 2024 and 28 February 2025, you may be eligible for an EMA from January 2025 (part award). If the application is received after 28 February 2025, the award will commence from the date of receipt of the application.

The cut-off date for receiving new applications from students for session 2024 to 2025 is 31 March 2025. If the documents requested have not been received within the three week timescale the applicant may be required to reapply and this may result in the loss of EMA payments.

Who can apply?

An EMA may be granted to any eligible young person who was born on or between 1 March 2005 and 28 February 2009 and either:

remains in full-time education within the Perth and Kinross Council boundary beyond the statutory leaving age, or
is on a Learning Agreement (for Young Person).

Note: residential criteria may apply.

How is an Education Maintenance Allowance calculated?

EMA awards will be payable according to the taxable income of the household of the young person.

For households with one dependent child (the applicant), the income threshold is £24,421.
There is an additional higher threshold of £26,884 for families with more than one child in the household.

Can applications be made for more than one young person in a family?

Yes, if their date of birth falls on or between 1 March 2005 and 28 February 2009.

When is the EMA paid?

The EMA is a weekly amount, normally paid fortnightly, two weeks in arrears.

How is the EMA paid?

It will be paid into the young person's bank account. If the young person does not have a Bank or Building Society account, they will be required to open one. This account must accept BACS payments (please check with your bank if you are unsure).

Will I be paid for holidays?

No - you will only be paid for the weeks you attend.

Does the young person's performance affect the EMA?

Yes - payment can be withheld, without warning, based on the following:

If attendance falls below the 100% of the agreed timetable with the learning centre in any week - no payment will be made for that week unless all absence has been covered by a medical certificate or been approved by education staff. Lateness can also affect payments. Full details of attendance requirements will be issued to all successful applicants.
If the Learning Agreement or Learning Agreement (for Young Person) conditions are not met (eg attainment and conduct).