This information is also available to download as a Word file or a PDF file.
16-19 years old and in School or Further Education (FE) College
Educational Maintenance Allowance (EMA)
If you are staying on at school after your school leaving date – the earliest date you can leave school – then you may be entitled to claim an Educational Maintenance Allowance (EMA).
To be eligible you must be between the ages of 16 and 19, ordinarily resident in Scotland, have a household income below a certain level and be in school full-time or in a non-advanced college course.
You can find out more about the EMA and how to apply here:
https://www.mygov.scot/ema/can-i-get-ema/
Other funding
If you have a disability which significantly affects your ability to perform tasks required in caring for yourself or that affects your mobility then from age 16 you may be eligible to apply for Adult Disability Payment (ADP). Should you be awarded it then this payment is not calculated as income and will not affect anything else you may be entitled to.
Help or reasonable adjustments
It may be that you need a bit of extra help or equipment to support you in your education due to your disability or impairment. Should this be the case you would discuss it with your school or college and they would be responsible for the costs of any of this support.
A good source of information on getting the support you (or if you are a parent – your child) need at school can be found here: https://enquire.org.uk/
Information last updated on 13th August 2024
We are grateful to the Scottish Government for funding this publication
