Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) is a weekly allowance paid to help young people in education beyond the statutory school leaving age of 16.
Please note payments for approved applications will commence 15 September 2023.
Please refer to the payment schedule [72kb] for payment dates throughout the year.
You qualify if you meet the following criteria
Sign up for MyAccount and apply online. This must be the student's own account and not the parent / carer account.
Access Online Applications here register or log in if you already have an account.
If you need to update your MyAccount details, please do so via this link: Update MyAccount details
If you have forgotten your MyAccount password, you can reset it here: Password Reset
The INCOME THRESHOLD for the EMA Programme, Academic Year 2023/2024
Household Income | No. of dependent children in household | Award |
£0 - £24,421 | 1 | £30 |
£0 - £26,884 | 2+ | £30 |
Dependent children are those up to the age of 16 and those over the age of 16 and up to the age 25 if they are in full time further or higher education.
Please contact your school for any payment enquiries in the first instance as missing payments could be due to attendance issues / non mark ups
Payments can be withheld due to unauthorised absence, lack of progress and/or conduct.
For all other enquires please contact us via our online enquiry form.
If you are refused EMA support you may appeal our decision.
Appeals must be made via our Online Enquiry Form.
Appeals must be made within 28 days of us informing you of the outcome of your award and must state the reason for your appeal together with additional supporting evidence/information.
The appeals process will take no longer than 28 days.
If you have a child under the age of 16 and meet eligible criteria, you may be entitled to Scottish Child Payment.
Please visit www.mygov.scot/scottish-child-payment or by calling Social Security Scotland on 0800 1822222.