EMA is usually paid directly into your bank account. If you don't have a bank account, you'll need to open one which can accept BACS payments. We won't usually pay to someone else's account.

We can't pay to accounts which need a roll or reference number (ie building society accounts). Please check with your bank or building society if you are not sure if your account needs this.

When will I be paid?↑

Payments are made fortnightly in arrears.

Please check the Payment timetable for payment dates.

There may be occasional changes to payment dates depending on bank holidays etc.

Will I be paid for school holidays?↑

No - You will only be paid for weeks in which the school is open for at least 3 days, so you will not be paid for holiday weeks. In-service days or emergency closures (due to bad weather etc) are not considered holidays for EMA purposes, and payment can be still made as long as your attendance is 100% for the rest of that week.

Will I be paid for study leave?↑

You can still be paid during official study leave but you must make sure that you're not off school out-with these dates – for example if study leave starts on a Wednesday and ends on a Thursday, you must be at school for the Monday, Tuesday before and the Friday after. You must also go to your exams. If you have a history of absence before a period of study leave, it is at your school's discretion to decide if you qualify for payments for these weeks.

Your school decides if your EMA will be paid for each week. If your attendance isn't satisfactory, no payment will be made for that week unless your absence has been covered by a self-certification form or has been approved by your school. Make sure you keep your school updated on any absences.

Lateness can also affect payments, as can progress and conduct – ie you may not receive payments if you don't meet the conditions of entitlement you agreed to with your Learning Agreement – including submission of home or course work.

If you've not received a payment or you have received less than you were expecting, you should contact your school in the first instance. They will be able to tell you which weeks you have or have not been approved for and the reasons why. You must make sure that your school is properly notified of any and all absences.

If the school cannot resolve the issue you can contact the EMA Assessment Team for further assistance.