EMA - Periods of Illness

[taffinnorfol]

Our son receives EMA whilst he studies for a BTEC (residential) at College. He was recently really ill with a virus for a whole week recently and had to come home. He notified College every day that he would be absent due to illness.
On his return, the college say that he has lost his (£30) EMA for that week and, as a consequence of his absence, will not qualify for the £100 end of year "bonus".
This seems really unfair. My question is: is the college correct?

[bednobs]

if you have a sick note, it's considered "authorised absence" - did he have a sick note?