General Chat

Thanks folks, will tell her that on monday! wish they'd started it the year before, for my daughter!..

EMA does not affect any other benefits.

If a 17yr old, starts college, does their parent still qualify for Child Benefit?, or does this stop?. Had this conversation with a friend at work, who's daughter is just starting a course for nursing, and needs some expensive books, I thought perhaps it would stop, now her daughter gets this other money!.

I think I get your point babe.... maybe it could be paid in vouchers that can only be spent in certain places

Your right it's not legally wrong. That's why i've written.

It may be morally wrong to people like you and me but it's not legally wrong.... it's their money and if they chose not to use it on books etc. then it's their choice..... I am sure a lot of students will spend it in pubs...

oh right, i didnt realise!! i just think its funny that there gonna take me to court over it all!!

No no, I didn't mean anything to do with fraud. I meant you could say, for example: Why is that person getting benefits just because he/she is disabled? It is because they need the help. I believe only those who really do need the extra money should actually recieve it. My friend is doing what i'm sure thousands are doing- using your money to fund non academic purchases. Is that not wrong?

Steedie.... it's a pilot scheme in certain areas babe, so should cover the whole country if it's approved!

The EMA website says.... Weekly payments You can get £10, £20, or £30 a week depending on your household income. Overall, your household income has to be under £30,000 to qualify for EMA. If it is, check out what's due to you below: So I can only presume that this persons family didn't lie about their income so it's in the bands stated above.... he was obviously assessed and the grant was given or he may not get it at all and is just winding people up to think he is.... either way Dan it is his money to do as he pleases with!! As for all other benefits.... i know there are benefit frauds out there and I would shop anyone i know to be claiming when they shouldn't!! I pay tax every day.... but as I have a job, I am entitled to not one penny.... the government didn't even have to house me when I left my husband even tho I can just about cover my outgoings.... so yes I know life is unfair.... but thats the way it is!!

but also...i dont think that they pay enough in some places...mine was £250 and that didnt even pay for my bus fare(which all of it went on)

"I don't see why just because parents have money that children should not get the allowance." Well you could say that for any sort of benefit. Be it housing to disabiliity benefits. The EMA is there so less well-off families can pay the costs of supporting their son/daughter at further education. If people are managing fine without it and even spending it on non-academic things, then surely the taxpayer's should be spent elsewhere.

i definatley see your point of view pinky, i didnt look at it from that way! xx

I'm afraid for once I am going to disagree..... I would rather the tax I pay go on educating people and if that means everyone gets £30 then so be it..... I think that the state has a right to educate people no matter what financial situation their parents are in.... the richest of people will put their children through Public school..... every working parent pays tax too.... so lets say that your friends father earns a fortune.... he is also paying a fortune in tax (more than like 40% tax) and therefore his children have a right to the fund!! Sorry, but I don't see why just because parents have money that children should not get the allowance.... I do agree that it's irritating for someone to hear someone else frittering away their money but unfortunately that's life.... i work hard, don't earn a fortune, but I use my money as I chose and woe betide anyone who should tell me otherwise..... some people would see me as extravagant as I do have 4 Gucci handbags..... but then 3 of those are over 5 years old and still look brand new.... and I don't buy cheap fashion ones, so the 4 gucci bags are all I have!! unfortunately that's life.... some people will always have more... I once watched a friend of mine buy an outfit that would have cost me 2 months salary at the time and I was gutted.... but I also realised it was her money to do as she chose with. Sorry off my soapbox now!!!!

cos i ate one of those muller yogs and they are sickly and big, n now i think im gonna hurl!!lol

Why do you 'feel sick' Steadie?? Best Wishes ,,Babz

I do agree with you...at my college it didnt work like that. we had to apply for the grant and we could only get it if we could prove and get a letter from the council, that we live on a council estate and we had to state how much our parents earn.....obviousley i qualified, i do know loads of people who tried to get (as extra pub money) but didnt manage to cos their parents were earning enough to support them fully. so yeah i do think ur right

I have a friend who has great pleasure in telling everyone what he is getting with his EMA. He qualifies for the full £30 and is spending it on CD's, DVD's etc. Her certainly doesn't need £30 and I bet that this is the case for thousands of students getting EMA. Think of the money you people are paying in tax and where it's going. Loads of people are benefiting of course but only people who actually NEED it should be given help. Just my opinion but I'm sure many will agree.

dan i have written numerous times and so has my brother about the asylum issue .suprise ,suprise we haven't had a reply from him.i think he replys to the issues that he wants to answer to and the ones he doesn't want to he doesn't botherxxxx(:

what £30 a week??? i got £250 for the whole year when i was at college, that didnt even pay my bus fair...now they are saying that they want it all back!! cos i didnt finish my course......the contract i signed didnt say anything about having to finish the course at all..and i left cos i wasnt learning anything, tutors were crap......so now they say that they are going to take me to court, i just told em to go 4 it, lol!! get me a day off work wont it!!!xx