Education Maintenance Allowance - Frequently Asked Questions

How do I apply for the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA)?

You apply for the EMA with an application form that you can get from your child’s school. You need to lodge this application form at your school by 26 February 2010 in time for the first instalment. You don’t need to lodge a separate application for instalment two unless your child changes schools.

What has changed about the way the EMA is paid?

Parents now have the option of receiving your parent portion of the EMA by either:

• Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) directly into your bank account

       or

• Payment by cheque – the same as current arrangements.

Why is the EFT option being introduced?

The new EFT option has been introduced to offer you a faster and more convenient option for receiving your EMA payment. Choosing the EFT option means that you will receive your payment 2 - 3 weeks sooner than with the current cheque based system.

Parents who do not want to provide their banking details, or who wish to direct their EMA payment to the school can still do so by nominating the cheque payment option.

What information do I need to give the school to make sure my payment goes directly into my bank account?

When filling in the EMA application form, if you want to receive your payment via EFT you need to tick the “Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT)” option and fill in your BSB* and bank account details.

You will also need to fill in your bank and branch name for verification purposes. This information will allow for your payment to go directly into your nominated bank account.

*A BSB (or Bank-State-Branch) number is a code used to identify individual financial institutions. It is usually a 6 digit number and it appears on your bank statement. If you are unsure please contact your bank.

What if I don’t have a bank account?

If you don’t have a bank account you can still receive your EMA payment by cheque from the school.

Can I choose to still receive my EMA payment by cheque?

Yes, if you prefer to receive your EMA payment by cheque you still can by ticking the “Payment by Cheque option” on the EMA application form. The cheque will be posted to your school for distribution to you, which is the current arrangement.

If I have a current Health Care Card does that automatically mean that I’m eligible for the EMA?

No, in addition to holding a valid Health Care Card or a Pensioner Concession Card, you must also be receiving a valid benefit from Centrelink on 27 January 2010 for instalment one and 12 July 2010 for instalment two.

Are you eligible for the EMA based on your child’s Health Care Card?

No, your child's Health Care Card is not linked to your financial status, which means it is not valid for the purposes of applying for the EMA. For further information, see: Eligibility.

How much do I receive if I’m eligible for the EMA?

In 2010, eligible parents and guardians of primary school students will receive $112.50 for the year and eligible parents and guardians of secondary school students will receive $225.00 for the year.

The payments are made in two instalments, the first from March and the second from August.

This money is divided equally between you and the school with the total payment (your portion and the school’s portion) for each primary student at $225 for the year and each secondary student at $450.

Payment amounts for 2010:

Instalment	Portion	Primary School Student*	Secondary School Student *
One (70%)	Parent or guardian	$78.75	$157.50
	School	$78.75	$157.50
Two (30%)	Parent or guardian	$33.75	$67.50
	School	$33.75	$67.50

*Student year level (or age for ungraded and special school students) will form the basis for calculating the amount payable to parents and schools.

Do I have to apply for the EMA each year?

Yes, you must apply for the EMA at the beginning of each year or at the beginning of Term 3 if your child changes school.

What happens if my child moves to another school?

If your child transfers to another school before 26 February 2010 you will need to lodge another application form at their new school for the first EMA instalment. Schools make a record of the students at their school for the first EMA instalment on 26 February 2010.

If your child transfers to another school after 26 February 2010 and before 6 August 2010, you will need to lodge a second application form at their new school by 6 August 2010 for the second EMA instalment.

What materials and services am I expected to buy or pay the school to provide for my child?

You may be expected to provide or pay for:

• textbooks including hire or access to class sets of textbooks
• stationery (pens, pencils, exercise books, work-books)
• materials for elective subjects where the student takes home the finished work (i.e. home economics)
• programs provided by visiting artists, speakers or performers
• camps and excursions that all students are expected to attend
• school identification cards
• school uniform (where applicable)
• official diary, handbook, or work planner
• computer printing over what is needed for class.

Can I ask my child’s school to use my EMA payment for specific items?

Yes, however, you will still have to meet the costs of any essential items that have not been covered by the school's portion of your EMA. These are costs that all parents and guardians are expected to pay for their child.

How can I find out what the school has spent their portion of the EMA on?

You can request from the school an itemised account of how the school's portion of your EMA has been spent.

Please note: If the school has not spent the amount by the end of the year, it may be carried over into the next year or other arrangements made to suit the needs of the student.

Am I paid the EMA if my child is over 16 years old?

No, once a student turns 16 the EMA finishes as your child can then apply for Youth Allowance through Centrelink.

What happens if my child turns 16 during the year?

Students who turn 16 during 2010 receive a pro-rata payment of the EMA calculated on the number of months that they are eligible, up to and including the month that they turn 16.

The payment amounts to parents and guardians range from $18.75 in total for a student who turns 16 in January to $225.00 for one who turns 16 in December. For further information, see: Payments

Further information

• Eligibility
• Payments