EMA

[Jimmy Grimble]

Anyone else on here get EMA? Any of you entitled to the summer 'bonus'? (Yes I know it's a bit silly we get 'bonuses' all you anti-EMA people) Any of you recieved your summer bonus yet?

I haven't got mine yet, and I'd rather not have to go back into College to sort it all out. Hoping it's not just me still waiting...

 

[Stoo82]

It might be one of the things which will go...

 

[KneeOn]

I've not got mine, i'm expecting it next week. If i don't get it i shan't be a happy bunny.

@Stoo82, the EMA Bonus (100 quid during January and June) is being scrapped. EMA weekly payments shall continue as it stands.

 

[Foolg]

EMA is a f***ing joke.
Thats all.

 

[Simon Morgan]

EMA is a f***ing joke.
Thats all.

This.

 

[KneeOn]

EMA is a f***ing joke.
Thats all.

I assume you don't get it?

I wont' lie, i've spent most of my EMA on season ticket/alcohol/albion shirts/edinburgh funds (although this is a cultural trip so its not all that bad) so far.

However this september/october EMA will pay for all my train fares for Uni Open Days. Its paid for the laptop I'm typing on now which was key to my note taking in lessons (my handwriting leaves a lot to the imagination) and my Computing course and often pays for my lunches.

So its not all a joke.

 

[Simon Morgan]

I wont' lie, i've spent most of my EMA on season ticket/alcohol/albion shirts/edinburgh funds (although this is a cultural trip so its not all that bad) so far.

Sums it up to be honest. Of course you're going to spend some of it on worthwhile things but in the meantime, it ensures that you don't necessarily have to get a job and that you have plenty of drinking money. Not exactly the intended purpose but thats not your fault.

 

[Beach Hut]

Bloody joke EMA which means I end up paying my eldest to go to college as all his mates get it.

 

[Foolg]

I assume you don't get it?

I wont' lie, i've spent most of my EMA on season ticket/alcohol/albion shirts/edinburgh funds (although this is a cultural trip so its not all that bad) so far.

However this september/october EMA will pay for all my train fares for Uni Open Days. Its paid for the laptop I'm typing on now which was key to my note taking in lessons (my handwriting leaves a lot to the imagination) and my Computing course and often pays for my lunches.

So its not all a joke.

Most people at my college (newman) are pretty well off who get it. They get it simply because they're parents are split up, or seem to be builders (cash in hand etc etc). In fact at least half a dozen people i know get huge amounts of money from their parents compared to me, added to £30 a week EMA, and £100 bonuses.
Where does the money go? It goes on them going out on college nights to 18+ events, getting smashed, then coming into college the next day an absolute state to get their £30.
It pisses me off, both my parents work, but I myself get £10 a week maximum from my parents plus half my season ticket paid for me. I pay for most of my personal possesions, and i work saturday mornings and sundays during the football season refereeing to pay for them. The fact that someone simply has to sit at college to get over £30 a week when factoring in bonuses for doing the same as me is an absolute joke.
No wonder the economy is in such a state with such stupid C*nts running it.

 

[KneeOn]

Sums it up to be honest. Of course you're going to spend some of it on worthwhile things but in the meantime, it ensures that you don't necessarily have to get a job and that you have plenty of drinking money. Not exactly the intended purpose but thats not your fault.

Hey. Getting drunk with people who are in the second year and thus 18 is an ESSENTIAL part of being in College. Some how...

 

[Shoreham Beach Seagull]

My friends that are entitled to EMA recieved their bonuses this week if this is of much help. As said EMA bonuses next year will be scraped, not like the £30 a week was enough in the first place. From scrapping the bonuses they are trying to give the weekly amount to more students.

 

[KneeOn]

Most people at my college (newman) are pretty well off who get it. They get it simply because they're parents are split up, or seem to be builders (cash in hand etc etc). In fact at least half a dozen people i know get huge amounts of money from their parents compared to me, added to £30 a week EMA, and £100 bonuses.
Where does the money go? It goes on them going out on college nights to 18+ events, getting smashed, then coming into college the next day an absolute state to get their £30.
It pisses me off, both my parents work, but I myself get £10 a week maximum from my parents plus half my season ticket paid for me. I pay for most of my personal possesions, and i work saturday mornings and sundays during the football season refereeing to pay for them. The fact that someone simply has to sit at college to get over £30 a week when factoring in bonuses for doing the same as me is an absolute joke.
No wonder the economy is in such a state with such stupid C*nts running it.

Harsh! A lot of people only come in for EMA. Thats really annoying. At least want to be at college to get it. A lot of the friends i have don't get any money from their parents (i don't, i'll have the odd fiver here and there, but its paper round money and EMA that pay for me to do anything). I wish i had a job though, because yes its 20 quid a week but when you've turned 17, want to drive, play football, folloow the albion etc, its not gonna happen on 20 quid a week when you've also got to pay for lunch/travel.

 

[Southwick_Seagull]

EMA is wank.

 

[HampshireSeagulls]

I have had students get really arsey because I have dared to stop their EMA payment for a week - even had one phone up from Zanta to ask why I had blocked their bonus! The stupid thing is that even if you block it, they appeal and the "there there" brigade end up overturning valid decisions. I don't doubt that EMA enables some people to come to College, but some of them take the piss - no pens, no paper, no resources, etc, etc - "Can't afford it". In which case I have blocked their EMA with the providers and not just the College. They can afford 20 a day and getting pissed three times a week, so the reality check is sometimes what they need. Of course, there are some where I know that the EMA goes straight into Mum's alcoholism and Dad's drug habit, or pays for the family to eat that week...

Apart from that OP - the Summer £100 should have been paid already. If you don't have it, you may have pissed off a lecturer who has chosen to use the EMA as some sort of power trip. Or, conversely, you could be behind in assignments, not shown a good attitude to learning or have an attendance under 89%. Which one is you?

 

[Gerbil]

I'll be getting EMA next year

 

[Foolg]

I have had students get really arsey because I have dared to stop their EMA payment for a week - even had one phone up from Zanta to ask why I had blocked their bonus! The stupid thing is that even if you block it, they appeal and the "there there" brigade end up overturning valid decisions. I don't doubt that EMA enables some people to come to College, but some of them take the piss - no pens, no paper, no resources, etc, etc - "Can't afford it". In which case I have blocked their EMA with the providers and not just the College. They can afford 20 a day and getting pissed three times a week, so the reality check is sometimes what they need. Of course, there are some where I know that the EMA goes straight into Mum's alcoholism and Dad's drug habit, or pays for the family to eat that week...

Spot on.
The problem is, although some use it in a worthwhile fashion, 90% dont. It goes on alcohol, going out, and even in some cases paying for holidays to Zante or Magaluf as some of my mates prove. Even so i dont understand how someone needs £30 a week to get to college each week and for equipment. What does equipment cost, say £5 being leniant for all you need which would last at least a few months. Those who have trouble writing, as FDM's gloves says he does, i can understand the need for a laptop, but not all college students do. Almost every family has a computer, and if not then a library within close proximity. So what does the other £20/£25 go towards once equipment and travel has been paid for?
I can accept that some need EMA, those who have trouble reading or writing so have the need for a laptop, and those who really do struggle to get to college (bus fares etc). But i can honestly say, the latter does not apply to a single one of my friends or people i know at college, yet large numbers of them get it. That is the problem i have with it.
The worrying thing is (and i by no means blame you for this FDM's gloves, as who would turn down £30+ a week) even you yourself say that its paid for your laptop, equipment etc, but you still have money left out of it to go out and get pissed etc etc. Surely you can see the problem?

 

[SeagullRic]

Spot on.
The problem is, although some use it in a worthwhile fashion, 90% dont. It goes on alcohol, going out, and even in some cases paying for holidays to Zante or Magaluf as some of my mates prove. Even so i dont understand how someone needs £30 a week to get to college each week and for equipment. What does equipment cost, say £5 being leniant for all you need which would last at least a few months. Those who have trouble writing, as FDM's gloves says he does, i can understand the need for a laptop, but not all college students do. Almost every family has a computer, and if not then a library within close proximity. So what does the other £20/£25 go towards once equipment and travel has been paid for?
I can accept that some need EMA, those who have trouble reading or writing so have the need for a laptop, and those who really do struggle to get to college (bus fares etc). But i can honestly say, the latter does not apply to a single one of my friends or people i know at college, yet large numbers of them get it. That is the problem i have with it.
The worrying thing is (and i by no means blame you for this FDM's gloves, as who would turn down £30+ a week) even you yourself say that its paid for your laptop, equipment etc, but you still have money left out of it to go out and get pissed etc etc. Surely you can see the problem?

Agree 100%. In a very, very small number of cases it is worthwhile, but for the vast majority it just funds going out, drinking etc. How you could possibly need £30 a week as well as a £100 in the summer, when you have no lessons and thus no educational use for it, astounds me. The system needs to be sorted out, and quickly.

 

[Wilko]

It seems obvious to me to make EMA a voucher system. So, you get a bus pass, book tokens or a meal voucher etc rather than £30 in cash that is spent in Honey Club on a Thursday night.

Why this cannot be applied is beyond me.

 

[clippedgull]

I see EMA as very similar to Child Benefit.

Some people really need it for the purpose it is for, others don't need it at all.

 

[Foolg]

It seems obvious to me to make EMA a voucher system. So, you get a bus pass, book tokens or a meal voucher etc rather than £30 in cash that is spent in Honey Club on a Thursday night.

Why this cannot be applied is beyond me.

That is the right way about it, no doubt.