16+ Money Facts

Child Benefit and Child Tax Credit

Your parents/carers will still get child benefit, and child tax credit, if they are eligible, while you are under 19 and in full-time education, on an e2e programme, or a Programme Led Apprenticeship (where you are not paid a wage). Under certain circumstances child benefit may be paid up to the age of 20.

Child Benefit and Child Tax Credit, if your parents qualfiy, will also continue to be paid to your parents/carers, for a limited amount of time, if you are 16 or 17 years old and have left school provided that you have registered for work or training with Connexions. This is to give you time to find work or training. These benefits stop if you start work or an Employer Led Apprenticeship (where you are employed and are paid a wage).

Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA)

If you are going into further learning either at school, college, or a work-based learning programme, you may be entitled to an Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA). An EMA is a cash award to help you carry on learning, which you don't have to pay back.

You could get up to £30 a week, depending on the income of your household.

It won't affect any other benefits your parents/carers get for you. Find out more at the money to learn government website You can also call the free Learner Support Helpline on 0800 121 8989

Entry to Employment (e2e) and EMA

If you are starting on an e2e course you may be able to claim an EMA, depending on the income of your household.

You can get an application form for EMA in schools, colleges and Connexions centres. If you would like help with the application form, ask your tutor or Personal Adviser.

Further help is available on the money to learn government website. . You can also call the free Learner Support Helpline on 0800 121 8989.

Learner Support Funds

These are funds that may be available in colleges and school sixth forms to help you with the costs you may have when starting or following your course. You can claim them even if you are in receipt of an EMA.

To find out more you can talk to your Personal Adviser or staff in your school or college. You can also find more information at the money to learn government website.

Registration Fees

If you are taking a course at college, you may be charged a small registration fee to cover administration costs.

Students with Learning Difficulties and/or Disabilities

The National Bureau for Students with Disabilities (SKILL) has info on financial support for further education. FREEPHONE: 0800 328 5050 (Monday-Thursday, 1.30pm-4.30pm). MINICOM (for people with hearing difficulties): 0800 068 2422. www.skill.org.uk.

Travel Expenses

If you think that you may have difficulty paying for travel to and from school or college, do check to see if there is any help on offer with travel costs. Local authorities and colleges may have different schemes to help students with travel, including subsidised fares, travel cards and passes - contact them for more information.

Other Costs

If you are under 19, you don't need to pay for full-time school or college courses, but you may need to buy equipment for some courses (eg catering, hairdressing, photography). You may be charged for part-time college courses.

Some Independent schools may be willing to offer sixth form places at reduced fees to students with excellent academic records.

Help to study at a specialist residential college

If you need to study away from home, you might be able to get help through the Residential Support or Residential Bursary Scheme. These scheme offer help with your accommodation costs, if the course you want to study is a specialist course that is not available within a 'reasonable daily travelling distance' from your home.

You have to be over 16 and show that you need to attend a course that is not available at a local college. The course has to be a full-time Advanced (Level 3) course. Exceptions may be made for a course with Level 2 content that leads to a further education qualfication meeting a specific job requirement..

You can find out more on the money to learn government website.

Are you a young parent?

Care to Learn is a childcare funding scheme for young parents. It provides help with paying childcare and travel costs. You are eligible if you are caring for your own child or children and are under 20 on the day your course starts.

You can get more information about Care to Learn by phoning the learner support helpline on 0800 121 8989 or checkout their website at www.dfes.gov.uk/caretolearn