If you have a 16 year old child who has just gone into the 6th Form then please make sure that they apply for the new allowance they are entitled to.

Called Education Maintenance Allowance, this can, subject to household income, pay £10, £20 or £30 per week subject to satisfactory attendance and achievement.  A further £100 bonus is paid termly.

It is recommended that even if you are unsure if the student will qualify, you apply anyway, as it is based on last years income.

Applications need to be in by the end of the month or you may lose out.

http://www.dfes.gov.uk/financialhelp/ema/

My son is 16 and just started at college. You have to make sure your child has a bank account and that they have a statement with their name, home address and account details on before you apply for EMA

My son is 17 and started college last year and has just completed  one year course. He is now on a two year course and is not entitled to the EMA. He has to sit with other students in his class that are getting it and will get the bonuses if they hit their attendance targets............how de motivating is that !!!!
Diane

They are talking about doing that for school kids as well :( :(
When I was at school 10+ years ago, there wasnt as many truants.Most people wouldnt even dare do it. So what has changed in the last 20 years?????????? They wouldnt have had to pay my school year as noone was ever absent without cause, and am sure it was the same at the comprehensive where my brother went. Or less of it than there is these days :(
Lea

It is true that students have to have a bank account to receive the money but the most important thing at the moment is that they actually get their applications in by the end of the month, or they will lose out on some payments.

Government statistics show that once again, only 70% of those who may be entitled have actually applied.  Some schools are not promoting it - perhaps for the reasons Diane gives above.  I know I would be gutted if I was her son, as was my daughter when she got to university and found her flatmates had all been in EMA pilot areas so while she was working her butt off after school and at weekends, they were handed their cheque and bonuses weekly!

It might motivate some students to attend more often.

My daugter didn't get it either :( While her mates went out partying, she had to work for money.... and now at Uni she gets the smallest student loan available too. She now has two jobs as well as her studying.

I'm sick of income based testing. Income does not give evidence of outgoings :(

My daughter isn't 16 until December, does this mean we won't be entitled to it?

Sharon your daughter will get EMA if she goes into the 6th form next year.  I guess she is currently yr11?

What criteria needs to be met in order to qualify for payment Jacky?

I've copied and pasted below from the link given above.  If 17, Check the website to see if you live in a pilot area as there are too many to list.  Hope this helps. 

What is Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA)?

EMA pays up to £30 a week directly into your bank account if you stay on in education at school or college after your GCSEs.
Available from September 2004, for any academic or vocational course which involves at least 12 hours of guided learning per week, the cash can cover items such as travel costs, books or equipment. It's your money - so you decide how to spend it. If you're entitled, you'll receive your EMA payment every week of your course as long as you turn up to your classes. Most young people will be able to get EMA for two to three years depending on how long they need to finish their studies.

And you could also get a bonus of £100 in January and July -and again in October if you come back for a second year. Bonuses depend on the progress you make with your course. That's £500 potential extra money over the two years. So, not only could you get more cash in your pocket right now, but you're also going to earn yourself a brighter future with better job prospects when you've finished your studies.

Weekly payments
You can get £10, £20, or £30 a week depending on your household income. Overall, your household income has to be under £30,000 to qualify for EMA. If it is, check out what's due to you below:

If your household income is: 
up to £19,630 per year you get £30 per week
£19,631 - £24,030 per year you get £20 a week
£24,031 - £30,000 per year you get £10 a week

Who is entitled to EMA?
Around half of all 16-year-olds studying in England are going to be able to get EMA. See if you fit the bill below:

Your household income has to be under £30,000 per year. You will need to check this with your parent or carer.
You're 16 between 1 September 2003 and 31 August 2004.
You're a UK national - that is, if you were born here, have UK citizenship or a UK passport.
   or if you've been granted indefinite leave to remain or refugee status.
   or if you're from a European Union or European Economic Area country and satisfy the Home Student criteria - check out www.homeoffice.gov.uk for more info.
You're doing, or applying to do, at least 12 hours of guided learning on further education courses in school sixth forms, sixth form colleges and Further Education colleges. This includes a wide range of courses up to and including level 3, such as AS/A2, GCSEs, GNVQs, NVQs and other vocational qualifications.

You're aged 17 and over and live in the 56 areas of the country that have already piloted EMA.

Thanks for that Jacky, are the figures quoted before overtime based on a flat rate of pay, or what is actually taken home including overtime?

Gross pay but from last tax year.  They use the same figures that are used for tax credit.  NO benefits are taken into account, purely earned income.

>They use the same figures that are used for tax credit.

If you get tax credits you can send them your current T.C. Award Notice as proof of income instead of having to fill in all your income details. :-)