If you decide to stay on at school, you may be able to get the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA). EMA is a weekly award of £30 which is paid fortnightly to students who meet the eligibility criteria below. It is intended to help cover the day-to-day costs that you have to meet when you stay on at school or college like travel costs, books and equipment for your course.

As well as the EMA payments, two bonus payments of £100 may be paid to you if you achieve the goals and objectives that are set down for you by your school/college as part of the Learning Agreement Part 2. The first bonus payment is made to students in January and the second bonus payment is made in June.

You can get an EMA if you're aged 16, 17, 18 or 19 years and if your household income is £20,500 or less for households with one dependent child or £22,500 or less for households with more than one dependent child.

Receipt of EMA will not affect any other benefits being received in the household.