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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Scrapping EMA

342 replies

TrollinaTrollpants · 13/12/2010 12:19

will poor people really miss it?

OP posts:
woolymindy · 13/12/2010 12:19

yes

ApocalypseCheeseToastie · 13/12/2010 12:21

Wellllllllllllllll, they do keep tax credits until 19 ?

I got chuff all when I was at college because my mum supposedly earned too much (I wish) yet others whos parents were on benefits or whatever were raking grants in.

Original poster
TrollinaTrollpants · 13/12/2010 12:21

surely if you have nothing to begin with...
anyway, these young people should be working

OP posts:
Original poster
TrollinaTrollpants · 13/12/2010 12:22

oh yes, raking in the money these poor people

OP posts:
KatyMac · 13/12/2010 12:22

God yes

Bus fares & lunch money for lots of children round here CB doesn't go far

BonniePrinceBilly · 13/12/2010 12:22

whats EMA?

coraltoes · 13/12/2010 12:23

Education up to age 18 is free in this country. I don't see why we have to pay people to attend college if it is a free service. In other countries if people are too poor to attend (ie need to support family earlier than aged 18) the more motivated work and attend free evening classes at local colleges.

Original poster
TrollinaTrollpants · 13/12/2010 12:25

ive met loots of teens who go to college becuase they get EMA

they should be working in a factory at that age

OP posts:
kuckingfunt · 13/12/2010 12:27

why do you think young people should be working Trollina?

ArcticRoll · 13/12/2010 12:29

very funny

ApocalypseCheeseToastie · 13/12/2010 12:30

Oh yes and loads dropped out, getting it handed over on a plate takes away the hunger for it, families are stil entitled to tax credits until their child reaches 19 and get free bus passes for any distance over 3 miles.

Fwiw I walked to college after dropping off dd at nursery (who was practically raised on her family allowance for first 2 years) I stayed living at home because the flat dp was renting although all he could afford wasn't suitable for a young baby whilst dp worked and paid dds nursery fees which his wages just covered. I took a packed lunch each day and yes, I lived to tell the tale.

Original poster
TrollinaTrollpants · 13/12/2010 12:33

becuase if they start learning anything beyond GCSE, they might start to think that they can be something

better to not allow that to happen

We all know the poor person never Volunteers to pay for the champers

OP posts:
Original poster
TrollinaTrollpants · 13/12/2010 12:33

my son doesn't get a free bus pass - so thats bollocks

OP posts:
ApocalypseCheeseToastie · 13/12/2010 12:36

Going back 12 years now, in my area tho that is the transport provided.

ApocalypseCheeseToastie · 13/12/2010 12:38

And parents can still get transport until age 19 Confused

This will effect our family too, we're a low income family on tax credits etc but I don't think it's a bad thing that it's going.

Abcinthia · 13/12/2010 12:39

Yes. I got ema for 2 years I was at college and ALG (Adult Learning Grant. Like EMA but without the bonuses) for a year when I was too old to get EMA.

And it was helpful. I was spending £20 a week on travel (the closest college to me that did A Levels was about 10 miles away), pay for exams I missed becuase the buses weren't running in January due to snow, my Psychology textbook was £22 and I had to buy countless books for Literature. My parents didn't help me buy any of the books (they were already helping me out by looking after DD while I was at college) and the only other money I got was Child Benefit.

If it wasn't for EMA/ALG, I wouldn't have been to go to back to college. I went back when I did becuase that was the last chance I got before I was too old for free education and would have to pay £250 per year.

ApocalypseCheeseToastie · 13/12/2010 12:39

tax credits Xmas Blush

ApocalypseCheeseToastie · 13/12/2010 12:42

Abcinthia, does your lea not fund transport over a certain distance either ??

NemoTheRedNosedFish · 13/12/2010 12:43

Don't we need The Poor for cannon fodder in the army? That's what Daddy says.

Original poster
TrollinaTrollpants · 13/12/2010 12:44

yes yes - ppor people need to go to war

OP posts:
christmaseve · 13/12/2010 12:45

Yes we will miss it. Bonuses were scrapped this year. When we filled in the forms it was meant to be for 2 yrs i.e you didn't have to re-apply for 2011/12 but they are taking it away for 2011/12. This is affecting the year who will be the first to be hit with these uni fees.

1993/94 and later was a bad year to start a family.

penfoldgnashers · 13/12/2010 12:50

We're very poor (eligible for FSM) but I think we'll survive without it. College is a good few years off so I don't know what DS will want to study, but there is free bus travel in London and we'll continue to get child tax credits.

I don't know what kind of discretionary grants will be available in the future but I went to college a few years ago and I was given a grant for books etc by the college and I've been told there will be something similar available.

It will be the people in the income bracket above us who will suffer more, who earn just enough not to qualify for any help. Doesn't give me much motivation to find work in the future even if there were jobs available!

Abcinthia · 13/12/2010 12:53

ApocalypseCheeseToastie: I got a bus pass for the first year I went back after I had DD (I got pregnant during my first year of college when I was 16 and went back to college when I was 18. Becuase I missed many lessons during my first year due to doctor's appointments, I started my A Levels again which is why I spent 3 years at college). I had to pay a bit towards it but it wasn't too bad (I think it was only about £100). The second year of college when I was 19-20 I was too old for a subsidised bus pass and would have to have paid £350 upfront at the start of the school year and I just didn't have that kind of money.

nightmarebeforechristmas · 13/12/2010 12:59

yes they will
sadly as it was slated by the mc that didn't get it, it will go.
sad though as it will mean less teens being able to go to sixth form

APixieInMyTea · 13/12/2010 13:00

It's an incentive to get people into college and training.

It's a good thing. £30 EMA for going to college or £60 (or whatever it is) for sitting on the dole.

I got a Job as soon as I left school (in fact I was still in school) so I didn't get it but my brother does.

They are quite strict. You can't miss even one day otherwise you don't get it. Simple as that.

My mum lives 300 miles away, my brother lives in student accommodation and his £30 EMA a week buys his food and books etc he needs for college.

And before anyone says it, yes he has been looking for a part time job to fit in around college but he's getting no-where. God only know's, the poor boy has tried and he's getting lower and lower knowing that he just keeps getting beaten by people with experience but no-one will give him the job to get experience in the first place.

So yes, people would miss it. My brother wouldn't eat if he didn't get it and would fall behind in college for not being able to afford the right books he needs.