College staff and students said the rules should change so more young people are eligible for financial help.
When she restarted her studies last year at further education college, Coleg y Cymoedd in Nantgarw in Rhondda Cynon Taf, Maddie was encouraged to apply for EMA.
The 18-year-old would have been eligible for the EMA when she was in school sixth form, but did not claim it.
A bus pass covers the cost of the 80-minute journey from her home in Treorchy to the college campus 15 miles (24km) away, but there are many other outgoings.
“I need to pick up food, books, stationery, pens, pencils… clothes in general and bags”, she said.
“I don’t have to go and ask my parents for money which is more pressure on them. I’m pretty OK for things.
“In comparison, when I was going to sixth form I was putting a lot of pressure on my parents.
“I didn’t want to do that. I didn’t want to ask them for money for the things I needed for school.
“I started working because I felt pressured because I didn’t have enough money to support myself.”
She started “prioritising work over sixth form”, could not keep track of her schoolwork or exams, her attendance suffered and she ended up leaving.
But the extra financial support she received through EMA meant she had enough money to quit her job, adding: “I had the time then to come into college and the time to revise.”
#Education #Maintenance #Allowance #Wales #students