to get cross at this

[needmorecoffee]

my eldest lives with the wealthy in-laws. She's 16. They want us to claim EMA for her based on our income cos our income is under 20K so we qualify but there's is way over 30K so they don't.
Surely that money is for poor families?
And they are demanding various P60's that we have lost to fill in the damn forms.
We already give them the Child benefit.

Oops, sorry, I thought you were telling NMC she was poisonous, have now read you think the IL's are poisonous, which I agree with

Sorry, must read properly 'blush]

Ignore me, carry on...

Please dont slink out hippi...we all make mistakes. Lol

YANBU at all. VVVV shocked at those who are angry because apparently your daughter should get £30 a week when she doesn't need it.

EMA makes me angry inside.

needanap...why does EMA make you angry inside?

Because my husband and I earn just over the limit ...but could not afford to give them £30 a week. Their friends can go out and do what they like, when my kids always had to turn it down. They got jobs to earn money when their friends just had £30 to spend as they liked. It presumes that parents will give their kids money.
It's especially annoying that they get extra money for attendance and handing in their work on time....why get rewarded for doing what you should do anyway?

Having said that, my DD did have one friend who's mum really couldn't afford anything...and the girl gave her mum the £30 a week. What a lovely thing for her to do.

I'm probably very unreasonable and very jealous!

NMC, I don't think you have any choice in the matter. If the GP are getting the CB direct because your dd lives there then the Benefits people are going to smell a rat if your dd is suddenly also living with you. SO YANBU.

Jammi and needanap, EMA gives my kids the chance to stay on at school/go to college. Without it they couldn't as I can't afford lunches and travel fares (especially to college) That is all it pays for, they work for money to spend on themselves

My eldest is also entitled to full grants to enable her to go to university.

Why should my children be penalised as I earn under 20k? They are both studying for a trade and will be pay back in taxes once trained (and more)

I would love to earn more than £30k but divorced, 4 kids, one with a disability, I can't

My daughter has just started to receive her EMA and I am so pleased for her. I am a single mum with just my dd and really did not have the sort of money her friends had....all of whose parents were working. It is such a relief that she can finally join in with them.

I am also relieved that I am not in such a position that I need to take it off her to help with household shite!

I totally understand why you are so pissed that you cannot get EMA, it really is unfair for some. As far as I know, it doesn't matter what is getting paid out, just on what the wage is coming in.

I personally think if a child of 16 is trying their damndest to do something with their life then they should have a small wage of some sort instead of pouring money into some very dodgy claimants of benefits!

They do not have to pay travel fares out of the EMA, they can apply for a students travel pass which lasts the year.

I dont think jammi and neednap were actually saying that the needy were not entitled to EMA.

No help for fares here - it costs her £5+ every day (4 days last year, 3 days this year)

If she travelled within London she could get help but she has to travel just out of London and it isn't covered by any concessions

Yes it cost me £5 every day until I get my travel pass through...didn't have the £25 to pay for the years pass as that meant it would cost me £50 in one week,with getting her to college as well. Finally got the £25 now so the pass will be here shortly.

Cannot see why you cant the pass as it is the local education authority that issues them to any student travelling to college...irrespective of income or distance.

scaredoflove- I am very happy that it enables your DD to continue her studies. Unfortunately EMA is not fair for everyone. I think there ought to be a better system... however, I cannot think of one.

Was not for one moment saying that I begrudge your D her £30 a week! But as juicyjolly says, it is due to EMA that she can finally afford to join in with her friends, but it is also due to EMA that my DD could not, iyswim.

Don't mean to cause any offence at all. Just venting feelings.

'They do not have to pay travel fares out of the EMA, they can apply for a students travel pass which lasts the year.'

There's no travel pass in this city. ds1 and ds2 will get EMA of £20 each. But £12 of that will be bus fares (which we pay ourselves now)

33k is pretty high given the average salary is 22K and the median lower.
The idea was to encourage children from poorer families to go to college rather than neeeding to get a job straight away.

I am intrigued by the 3.4 children though.....

33K wouldn't be high if you had 5 children though would it? iyswim
I think EMA should at least take into account any other children. I especially couldn't give DD any money when I had DS at uni... [whose loan didn't even cover his accommodation, therefore had a brilliant £-600 for the year. Classic times. But that is a whole other rant!!!]

I am just a bitter woman.

yes it should take into accoutn other children (I have 4)
But then bring back student grants too. If any of mine want to go to uni they are on their own regarding money.

thread hijack alert!!

The issue is that the new system means they cannot be on their own regarding money, unless they receive the grants on top of loan. My DD's and DS's loans do not cover their accommodation. In fact they are less than accommodation cost. So they would need to find money for this and cost of living, and don't even get me started on prices of textbooks!!!! DD has a job but still struggles. It is ridiculous. Moreover, most accommodation contracts for first and second year overlap, and they have to pay a huge deposit for the second year, AND pay for their next house over the summer. Last year I was paying £96 a week from May-July when DS didn't even have any uni, AND was paying £75 a week May- September for his next house.

Pah. These children.

I asume mine will get the grant and loan. But we can contribute nothing. they'll hafta get a job too. I've told both boys to get jobs at 16 to help with household income.

Your boys sound great. It was a complete struggle to get DS a job!

I know I sound ungrateful...I AM lucky to be in a position that I can help my kids out with it. Just often is such a stress.

sorry that should say... to get DS to get a job! I don't do everything for him :P Although he'd probably be happy if I did

I was planning to heave them out the door and tell them not to come back till they've found a job
They ain't happy. But they need to get used to it cos they want to go to uni and as we cannot even give them 5p they will have to work then too.