You may be eligible for an Education Maintenance Allowance if you are aged 16-19 and wish to stay on in education.
EMA Applications for 2023/24 are now available. Please remember that if you were in receipt of EMA last year, you need to re-apply this year. Our process has changed and would ask you to complete the online EMA application form and provide the following supporting documents. These can be uploaded at the end of the form (this can either be as a PDF or image taken on a phone).
If, for any reason, you cannot access the form electronically then please contact EMA@west-dunbarton.gov.uk.
Supporting documents required:
More information is detailed within the EMA Guidance Notes to help you complete the form. If you need any further help please email EMA@west-dunbarton.gov.uk.
Please note – if you are in receipt of benefits, we require the confirmation letter received from DWP for 2022/2023 tax year. Due to the current situation, you do not need to complete pages 15 & 16 of the application form at this moment in time, however you are required to send your confirmation letter for 2022/23 tax year with the form.
West Dunbartonshire Council has agreed to pay an additional £10 per week if a WDC pupil is a registered “Young carer” and receives a Young Carers Grant. They will be entitled to an additional £10 per week. Evidence for example Young Carers Grant award letter / evidence of payment on bank statement etc. will be required.
For those eligible for a full year award (starting in August 2023), if the application is not submitted before 30th September 2023, the award can only be made from the week it is received by the EMA Team.
For those who are eligible from January 2024, if the application is not submitted before 28th February 2024, the award can only be made from the week it is received by the EMA Team.
Please note, all applications for Session 2023/24 can be submitted now, even if you are not eligible to receive EMA until January 2024. This will allow the EMA Team to process applications in a timeous manner.
An Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) is a Scottish Government initiative aimed at helping young people stay on in education. You may be eligible for an EMA if you are aged 16-19 and attend a West Dunbartonshire school or in receipt of an Activity Agreement.
An EMA is a weekly allowance payable to young people who have achieved 100% attendance per week at school. It is paid on a 2 weekly basis.
The Income Threshold for the EMA programme is shown in the table below.
The Scottish Government have increased income thresholds from 1 January 2016.
The Income Threshold for the EMA programme, academic session 2023-24 are:
Household Income | Number of dependent children | Award |
---|---|---|
0 - £24,421 |
1 |
£30 |
0 - £26,884 |
2+ |
£30 |
WDC will increase EMA by £10 per week for every young person paid out in two instalments in January and July.
Please contact the EMA section for more information.
Dependent children are those:
Please ensure that you sign the application form AND include all original documentation before posting.
EMA Attendance and Payment dates for 2023/24
Education Maintenance Allowance in Scotland
You can use this website to find out more information and to check if you are eligible for an EMA.