PUPILS who stay on at either Beath or Lochgelly High schools who were born between March 1 2000 and February 29 2004 could get £30 a week paid into their bank account through Education Maintenance Allowance.

For that to happen household income must be less than £24,421 for families with a single dependent child or £26,884 for more than one dependent child. Please note that if your household income is above £26,884 then no award is payable.

Fife Council is encouraging parents to apply for the support if they qualify.

Councillor Fay Sinclair, convener – education and children’s services committee, said: “If you’re entitled to this help, please make sure you apply.

“Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) is paid in addition to other support and benefits you may receive so you won’t lose out on any other money, such as Child Benefit, if your child(ren) gets an EMA. As well as this, it doesn’t affect any money your child(ren) may earn from a part-time job."

Ms Sinclair added: “Also, if eligible, make sure applications are in by September 30 so that we can backdate it to August 19 2019. If you don’t, then the EMA will only be paid from the date the application is received. And don’t forget, even if your child(ren) has applied for an EMA before, they need to re-apply each academic year.”

Closing date for applications is March 31 2020 and other deadlines for backdating also apply.

For more information and to apply visit www.fifedirect.org.uk/ema or alternatively email ema@fife.gov.uk or call 03451 55 11 55 and choose option 3.