Student Income, UC & EMA

cwatson0000

So I reported today in my journal that I’ll be starting a Full Time course of non advanced education at college this September… I am disabled have LCWRA and I’m on DLA, also I’m under 21 without parental support so I’m still eligible to claim UC. They got back to me and said any student income I’m eligible for will be taken into account even if I decide not to claim it. After emailing the finance office they said I wouldn’t be eligible for any student finance as I’m only starting a Level 2 course, but I could be eligible for Education Maintenance Allowance which is £30 a week payed fortnightly. I can’t seem to find a clear answer online and was wondering if anyone knew if EMA counts as student income, or income that would be declared to UC as a whole and then be deducted from my monthly pay? 

MarkM88

Just to clarify, are you in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland? As EMA is not available in England no more. 

cwatson0000

Northern Ireland.

MarkM88

That’s alright then. Just wanted to make sure you were aware. 

calcotti

Found this for Northern Ireland
https://www.communities-ni.gov.uk/sites/default/files/publications/communities/dm-adm-chapter-h6.pdf

Education maintenance allowance

H6042 Education maintenance allowance consists of means-tested payments paid under specific law to support young people who remain in non-advanced education after the age of 16. Payments can be made for up to two years to support young people between the ages of 16 and 19, but in some cases an allowance may continue to be paid for up to three years between the ages of 16 and 20.

H6044 Payments made under H6042 are excluded from within the definition of a grant. For Universal Credit purposes, the decision maker should disregard such payments as being treated as student income.

cwatson0000

Thank you so so much!!