Money Facts
The best source of information for young people, and their parents/carers, about money for learning, including EMA, Discretionary Support Funds, Residential Bursaries and Care to Learn, is the Direct Gov website Money to learn
Young people and their parents/carers can also telephone the money to learn helpline on 0800 121 8989. The helpline is open 7am - 8pm and they can now also apply for their EMA via the helpline.The best source of information for young people, and their parents/carers, about benefits for young people, including the new Employment and Support Allowance, is on the benefits pages of the Direct Gov website
The information below is a brief summary of the information as of the date of writing (18/05/10).
Apprenticeship rates - New from October 2010
There is a new apprenticeship minimum wage rate. This guarantees a minimum wage of £2.50 per hour to:
- Apprentices under 19
- Apprentices aged 19 and over, but in the first year of their apprenticeship.
After the first year, apprentices aged 19 or over will be entitled to the standard minimum wage.
Some employers will pay more than the legal minimum rates especially after the first year.
For more information on the National Minimum Wage you can go online. You can also call the pay and work rights helpline on 0800 917 2368.
Benefits
Child Benefit and Child Tax Credit
If a young person is under 19 and in full time education, on an e2e programme, or a Programme Led Apprenticeship (where they are not paid a wage) their parents/carers will still get Child Benefit, and Child Tax Credit, if they are eligible. Under certain circumstances Child Benefit may be paid up to the age of 20.
Child Benefit and Child Tax Credit, if their parents qualify, will also continue to be paid to their parents/carers, for a limited amount of time, if they are 16 or 17 years old and have left school provided that they have registered for work or training with Connexions.
Income Support
If a young person has difficulties with their parents/carers that mean that they have to live apart from them, and they are in relevant education or on eligible training programmes then they can apply for Income Support.
Employment and Support Allowance for young people
Employment and Support Allowance replaced Incapacity Benefit and Income Support paid for people who are unable to work because of a disability or illness, for new claimants from the end of October 2008.
Young people may also be entitled to EAS(C) if they are aged 16-18 (and up to 25 in certain circumstances) and are unable to work because of an illness or disability. They would need to be assessed as having a low capacity for work for the minimum qualifying period and have medical evidence. ESA (C) may also be paid to young disabled people on full time courses, under youth rules, if the person with disability attends a course ‘specifically designed for disabled people’.
Job Seekers Allowance for 16 and 17 year olds
Most 16 and 17 year olds cannot get Job Seekers Allowance (JSA), which gives financial help while the claimant looks for work. However, in certain circumstances young people may qualify for this benefit.
If they are unemployed, and 16 or 17 years old, they may be able to get income-based JSA for a short amount of time. For example, this could be if they:
- are forced to live away from their parents
- will find it very hard to live without Jobseeker’s Allowance
- are part of a couple responsible for a child
Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA)
EMA is an Education Maintenance Allowance. It’s a weekly allowance of up to £30 intended to help young people stay on in education or training after they reach school-leaving age. Claiming EMA will not affect their parents' benefit payments, if they get any, or their own benefits if they are a young parent.
They will be eligible if they are 16 -19 and:
- studying on a full-time course (12 hours or more) in a sixth form, sixth form college or FE college OR
- taking part in work-based learning without a wage - for example, Entry to Employment (e2e) or a Programme Led Apprenticeship
- Their houshold income will be assessed to determine their entitlement.
Discretionary Support Funds
These are funds available in colleges and school sixth forms to help learners who are having trouble meeting the costs of taking part in further education at school or college.
Is there any help if a young person wants to study away from home?
If a young person needs to study away from home, they may be able to get help through either the Residential Bursary or Residential Support Scheme.Care to Learn - Financial help for young parents
Care to Learn is a childcare funding scheme for young parents. It provides help with paying childcare and travel costs so that young parents can stay in education or work-based learning. They will receive up to £160 per week to pay for childcare and travel costs to and from the childcare provider.
They are eligible if they are caring for their own child or children and are under 20 on the day their course starts. Help is on offer for learning at school or college, or a work-based learning programme such as Entry to Employment (e2e), pre e2e, or a Programme Led Apprenticeship. If they claim any benefits, they will still receive these as well as Care to Learn money.
Young people can get more information about Care to Learn by phoning the national learner support helpline on 0800 121 8989 or by visiting the Care to Learn webpages on the Directgov website
