We have a client whose husband receives DLA MRCC and for whom nobody receives CA. She works FT and receives WTC + CTC for 2 children.

Their daughter, aged 16, is about to enter 6th Form, and will receive an Education Maintainance Allowance of £30. They estimate that she will be doing less than 21 hours a week of supervised study, so would not be precluded from claiming CA. We assume that were she to do so that income would be ignored for the purposes of tax credits. But what impact, if any, would CA have on her EMA?

We've tried phoning the EMA Helpline but it's permanently engaged; it must be that time of year.

I have had clients who have claimed CA and EMA together with no problem.

I have always been more worried about problems arising from the young person claiming CA whilst the parent continues to claim CB and CTC for the young person. But this has never been a problem either.

In the past I have spoken to EMA/CA/CB/CTC helplines none of them could see a problem, and I have not been able to find anything in the rules to prevent claiming like this.

It doesn't seem right, but then we can't start looking for logic in the benefit rules!

Jane