So, Kayleigh will be going back to 6th form for A levels in September. She'll be entitled to some EMA (Education Maintenance Allowance). This is how it is worked out:

Your household income (for financial year 2008-09)
How much EMA you get
up to £20,817 per year £30 per week
£20,818 - £25,521 per year £20 a week
£25,522 - £30,810 per year £10 a week
more than £30,810 per year no entitlement to EMA

So, it's based on last years income when I was at work. Between us, our joint income was just under £28k, so Kayleigh will get £10 per week. But this tax year I'm on maternity leave which means our joint income will fall below the £20,817 so she'll be entitled to £30 a week next year.

So, in the year we're struggling because I'm on a low income, she'll only get £10 a week. But next school year I'll be back at work, Charlie will be in school so no nursery fees to pay, and Kayleigh will get £30 a week!!!

They don't take into account any other children in the household. They don't look at nursery payments or anything! Kayleigh's best friends mum is a single mum earning £17k a year, gets rent paid, council tax paid, and has no other kids to pay for and she'll be getting £30 a week!

Another example of ridiculous government workings out!!!

So many of my friends had this happen to them when we all started college/6th form

Alot of their parents had had their hours cut or job loses but as the earnings are calculated from last years, they either didn't get anything, or just £10.

EMA it's self is a really crappy system, the amount of times I didn't get paid it was unreal as they had "technical problems" and it would get backdated apparently...it never did.

I'm a student on EMA, and tbh i agree with most of you
Excpept, I think they should have a higher bracket of £40 for some, maybe for those with and income of less than £9000 a year xx

£30 a week pays my bus fares to get to work and college
I've finished college now, but I still work part time with two jobs
One I do voluntarily, and one barely pays anything, but I guess it's better than nothing

Don't they do college bus passes in your area? We have them here for £60 (£0 if parents are on benefits) if you live more than 3miles from college

We got a bus pass for free to get to college because it was over 3 miles, nothing to do with benefits.

alright for some lol our bloody council made us pay for em

It is stupid isn't it. I hadn't thought of it from the point of view of the students, just the parents, so thanks for that. When I was at school I was able to get a part time job to help, but Kayleigh is finding it impossible. There is nothing, and those that are there are being snapped up by the poor people who have lost a fulltime job. This country sucks. One thing I am grateful for is that Kayleigh is staying at the college she is currently at for her A levels, so she will be walking every day.

Don't get me started with EMA! I grew up in the area where they tested it, so it was available when I was in sixth form. Just not to me! Because my parents both worked I got nothing. I spent my weekends working in Burger King while my friends got paid just to turn up to college.

My ema was good apart from trying to get the money by the time it was back dated they owed me £300.. We got given a free megarider everyweek.. I got £30 a week but when OH was at 6th form he got £0 because his parents had to much money before they brought in this new system...

Also i dont think its fair that the teacher can choose not to pay your ema even if your at college basied on the amount of work you have done or your attitude...

Although i was luky my tutor really liked me and when i kept being off with MS or being late i still got paid when i should not have lol

I got £10 a week.My mum was part time, dad was full time. Living in a fairly small house. One car. My friend who's parents both had full time jobs, about 3 cars, a computer and tv in every room of their big 4 bed house got £30 a week.

I dunno how they actually work these things out but it can be completely ridiculous sometimes!