FTAdviser.com

Advertising

Learners need not miss out on money they are entitled to, as applications for the education maintenance allowance payments has been extended, according to the Learning and Skills Council.

The council has been working closely with contractor Liberata to resolve the technical and processing issues of obtaining a cash injection to aid further learning.

Mark Haysom, chief executive for the council, said: “The allowance, managed by the LSC through Liberata, was set up to keep students from less well-off families in education to improve their job and life prospects.

“Some young people have yet to apply and we encourage all learners to put their applications in as soon as possible. As long as they do this by the end of October they are guaranteed to receive all the money they are entitled to, including back dated payments from the start of their course.

“The LSC already provides schools and colleges with discretionary learner support funds to help learners in severe hardship and is actively encouraging colleges to use this to offer interim support to individuals who might otherwise suffer as a result of late payment of their EMA.

“We want to ensure that no young person is in financial hardship, so the LSC has put in place interim measures to support young people most at need. The deadline for applications for allowance payments is now the end of October.”