Information on Trainee Wages and Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA)
From August 2008 new rules from the LSC about Training Allowances for non-employed learners came into force.
Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) works exactly the same as EMA works for young people staying on at school or going to college. They are only eligible if they are between 16 and 19. The maximum amount of EMA is £30.00 per week which is paid directly to the learner. The household continues to receive child benefit and tax credits if these were received while the learner was at school.
Learners on E2E (Entry to Employment), doing NVQ level 1 with us will automatically be awarded EMA at the maximum £30.00 per week and DART will repay reasonable weekly travel costs for them. Their attendance at work is checked weekly by phone and recorded by the employer on a monthly attendance sheet.
It is expected all DART’s new Apprentices (level 2 NVQ) will be employed and receive a minimum of £80.00 per week at 16 and, therefore, EMA will not apply. In exceptional circumstances, an apprentice may be non-employed status on what is called Programme Led Apprenticeship (PLA), and in these cases, EMA may be used for a limited period (usually up to 6 months) until the apprentice becomes employed.
Learners on PLA will be subject to EMA being paid at a rate based on their household income in the last tax year. The rate of EMA may be the full £30.00 per week or £20.00 or £10.00 on a sliding scale. If the household income is over £30,810.00 no EMA is payable.
The school leaver and their parents/guardians need to apply for EMA on forms obtainable from Connexions or from the DART office. DART receives notice of the EMA contract and activates the learners’ payment which is paid direct into their bank account (weekly)
If you need further information on EMA we can send out a booklet or you can visit the website: www.direct.gov.uk/ema