Applications open for financial support for post 16 years old education in Highlands
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Applications now being accepted for Education Maintenance Allowance for the new academic year
All eligible young people are being encouraged to apply for a weekly, term time allowance of £30 per week from August.
Highland Council administers Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) for eligible young people from across its 29 secondary schools.
Colleges administer this scheme for their students.
During 2021/22, more than 600 young people across Highland secondary schools benefited from approximately £600,000 from the allowance.
It provides an incentive for young people aged 16-19 from lower income families to continue with their post-16 education, either in school or college.
Eligibility for the scheme is based upon the total taxable household income for 2021/22:
• up to £24,421 taxable income for households with one dependant child; and
• up to £26,884 taxable income for households with two or more dependant children.
This weekly term time allowance is paid directly into the young person’s bank account and does not affect the child benefit or other benefits being paid to their parents or carers.
Applications are now being accepted for the 2022/23 academic year from Highland school pupils in post-16 education.
Councillor John Finlayson, chairman of the council's education committee, said: “This weekly term-time allowance is paid directly into the student’s bank account and supports their access to education and whatever learning pathways they wish to choose.
"I am encouraging all young people from across the Highland Council area who are eligible to apply, to do so as quickly as possible.
"This will ensure they do not miss out on £30.00 every week, during each of the school terms, from August.
"The council continues to work hard to raise awareness about the financial support that is available to eligible households.”
The council’s welfare support team can complete the online application form with the young person and in the wider context, can support all eligible households to apply for benefits and other entitlements.
They can be contacted by telephoning 0800 090 1004 or emailing welfare.support@highland.gov.uk
