View PARENT VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS AND SCHOOL CHARGES

This memorandum is to advise you of the procedures surrounding the claiming and management of the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) for 2001. The eligibility criteria, total amount provided, and payment method has not changed from 2000.

Eligibility criteria

The allowance will be paid in two instalments and to be eligible you must:

(a) be a parent or guardian of a primary or secondary school student up to the age of sixteen, and
(b) hold a current Centrelink Pensioner Concession or Health Care Benefit Card, or a Veterans Affairs (TPI) Pensioner Card, or be a foster parent as at the first day of term 1 (30 January 2001) for the first instalment, and the first day of term 3 (16 July 2001) for the second instalment, and
(c) submit your application to the school by the due date.

As the EMA is provided to assist low-income families, any Centrelink payments that are not income tested (eg Carer Allowance, formerly Child Disability Allowance, Mobility Allowance and Remote Area Allowance) are not eligible unless you also comply with section (b) above.

Amount and payment method

An annual amount of $127 for primary and $254 for secondary students is payable in two instalments, each on a 50 per cent to the parent and 50 per cent to the school basis, ie:

*Student year level (or age for ungraded students and special school students) will form the basis for calculating the amount payable to parents and schools. Students turning sixteen during the year will be paid on a pro rata basis up to and including the month in which they attain the age of sixteen.

Parent portion of the EMA

Parent cheques will be sent to the school for distribution. Parents must advise the school if they change address during the year.

School portion of the EMA

Schools must spend their portion of the EMA on items for which all parents may be asked to provide or pay the school to provide. Such items could include:

• student requisites and stationery (eg pens, pencils, exercise books)

• student computer printing beyond the needs of the eight key learning areas

• materials for electives where: the student consumes or takes possession of the finished articles; the payment sought is the difference between the basic materials/services and the higher costs alternatives

• programs provided by outside specialists (eg visiting artists, speakers, performers)

• camps and excursions which are integral to the curriculum and which all students are expected to attend

• school identification cards

• school uniform (where applicable)

• official diary/handbook/work planner.

The school's portion of the EMA can only be put towards the costs of those materials or services for which all parents may be asked to provide, not the voluntary parent contribution.

At the end of the year, principals should refund any unexpended portion of the EMA or, alternatively, negotiate a carry over to the following year for a specified purpose.

Application forms

Application forms are available from your school. A separate application is required for each school if you have students attending different schools.

EMA application forms require you to enter your name, Centrelink reference number (CRN) and payment type code in the same format as shown on your Pensioner Concession Card or Health Care Card.

Your CRN will be referred to Centrelink to enable verification of entitlement as at the first day of term 1 (30 January 2001) and the first day of term 3 (16 July 2001).

Signing the application form authorises the Department of Education, Employment and Training (DEET) to verify your eligibility with Centrelink.

Payment can only be made to the main cardholder as Centrelink cannot verify dependant details.

Please ensure all claimant, Centrelink and student details, including year level and date of birth, are correctly recorded on the application form as any error will result in the claim failing the verification process which may delay payment.

Application for the allowance

First instalment
You are required to complete an Education Maintenance Allowance Application Form for the first instalment of 2001.

Second instalment
If you are paid the EMA for the first instalment and your child is enrolled at the same school for the second instalment, you will not be required to complete a new application for the second instalment.

However, if your child transfers to another school prior to the beginning of term 3, you will be required to reapply at the new school for the second instalment. In these circumstances, it is your responsibility to submit an application at the new school for the second instalment.

If you were not paid the EMA in the first instalment because your claim did not pass the verification process, you did not apply, or you missed the cut off date, you must submit an application form for the second instalment.

Submission of forms/claims

You are required to submit your claim to the school by:

• 2 March 2001 for the first instalment, and

• 17 August 2001 for the second instalment.

Note: The Department will NOT accept late claims. All queries relating to eligibility and payments of the EMA are to be directed to your school.