Fife pupils staying on at school can get £30 per week

Young Fifers could pocket £30 per week for staying on at school.

An allowance is available to youngsters continuing their studies – if they met the criteria.

Fife Council said the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) was available to pupils born between March 1, 2001 and February 28, 2005 who are staying on at school.

Household income must be less than £24,421 for families with a single dependent child or £26,884 for more than one dependent child.

If they meet the criteria, they could get £30 a week paid into their bank account.

Online celebration for Fife Pride this weekend

Councillor Fay Sinclair, convener of the education committee, said: “Hopefully schools will return as normal after the summer holidays, but even if Covid-19 spikes and they don’t, please, if you’re entitled to this help, make sure you apply.

“The EMA is paid in addition to other support and benefits you may receive so you won’t lose out on any other money, such as child benefit, if your child(ren) gets an EMA. As well as this, it doesn’t affect any money your child(ren) may earn from a part-time job.”

Applications need to be in by September 30 so that the local authority can backdate payments to August 11.

www.fifedirect.org.uk/ema

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspapers - the Fife Free Press, Fife Herald, St Andrews Citizen and East Fife Mail.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the highest standards in the world. The dramatic events of 2020 are having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers and consequently the advertising that we receive. We are now more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news by buying a copy of our newspaper.

Thank you

Allan Crow, Editor, Fife Free Press