A client I am working with is 18 and in full-time relevant education as a hairdresser. Part of her course includes a days placement for which she gets paid for. She also works at the weekend (in a salon I believe)
Her work is important to her so does not want to leave. The clients mother has thrown her out so she needs to live independently.

She earns approx £65 p/w so would have some entitlement to HB, she earns too much for IS and guidance for EMA states that IS is a pre-requisite for EMA. Is there any way around this as the client is on a low income and any extra income would help especially as she travels a long way to college on public transport.

Thankyou, Russell Pember

Might she be entitled based on her mother's income (assuming her mother would still fill in the forms, even though she's thrown the daughter out)?

Also, have you looked into whether the college can provide any additional financial support / assistance with travel costs, etc?

"and guidance for EMA states that IS is a pre-requisite for EMA". Can you expand on that?

According to the regulations EMA has got nothing to do with IS. It is based on the parents' income, however that is made up. Or if the student is estranged then they are classed as an independent student and EMA is then based on the student's income.

"Learners who are estranged
47. A learner who is estranged must provide proof of receipt of Income Support using Part C of the application form or provide evidence of receiving Care Leavers Allowance. Their parents’or carers’income does not need to be declared. Please note: EMA is paid in addition to these benefits and will not affect the amount of Income Support or Care Leavers Allowance the young person receives."

http://ema.direct.gov.uk/ematellafriend/uploads/docs/Guidance%20for%20Providers%20(non%20E2E%20PLP).pdf

One of my reasons for asking about the pre-requisite for I.S. is that another of our clients was receiving EMA through being on a Princes Trust course, living independently and not receiving I.S. or JSA but only HB. I'm not sure how they managed that!

I directed the young woman to student support services about any bursaries that may be available.

The parent's income was too high for her to recieve EMA at home.

"Learners who are estranged
47. A learner who is estranged must provide proof of receipt of Income Support using Part C of the application form or provide evidence of receiving Care Leavers Allowance. Their parents’or carers’income does not need to be declared. Please note: EMA is paid in addition to these benefits and will not affect the amount of Income Support or Care Leavers Allowance the young person receives."


That is only for verification purposes. If the student is on benefit (and thus can be assessed on his/her own income rather than the parents) then they must provide proof. In itself receipt of IS is not a prerequisite for EMA. An estranged student may not be entitled to IS (because, say, s/he has income higher than his/her applicable amount) and still qualify for EMA.