EMA is unfair - its supposed to be their money - not to do with parents income!

[TheHolyGrail]

Why is gov't pushing EMA saying its 'your' money. DS1 can't apply as we are above the limits. Why isn't at least the lowest EMA amount paid to all students who qualify at least there is some equitable incentives for all. The parents can then top up as they want to (and able to afford) based on their personal circumstances. After all child benefit is not income related.

So out of control children of well-off divorced mums pool their EMA loot for debauched weekend sessions?

The little devils. Still, at least they are learning to share.

Just because a divorced living away from home father/mother is loaded doesn't mean the kids see any of it! A lot of maintenance stops when kids get to 16/17/18, so it is left to the resident parent to pay for everything for the child/young adult.

It's hard enough to get maintenance for the children, let alone any extra! I get 25% of exH net pay, next year it will go down to 20% as 2 will be over 18. They are both still living with me and prob will be for the forseeable future, I still have to look after them. They can get a part time job, for minimum wage and contribute but it still won't make up the missing money. Why should they miss out on further education just because we live in one income family?

I guess the answer is that you don't stop being a parent just because you get divorced. You may decide to split up and run two households rather than live under one roof, but you carry on being a parent.

I have had this conversation with my kids. We earned over the threshold (although as DH has just lost his job we may now qualify!) so DD gets no EMA, and we cannot afford to give her the equivalent. Therefore all her friends who do get it can afford their driving lessons etc. Again, most of her friends live with a lone parent and also get loads of extras from the "missing" Dads.

What really annoys her though is when they get "bonuses" for regualr attendance! She had just got used to the fact that they get EMA and she doesn't, and then they all go out on a bonus spending spree!

I do remember though that when I was at 6th form, and my Dad had no job, my Mum claimed an allowance to buy my uniform - and one teacher told the whole class which was really embarrasing as I was the only one who WAS geting something.