Allowances / expenses in BR

charley_babe · 11 April 2011 at 5:18PM

Hi all,

Does anyone know what the guidance is for allowances for food etc.

I don't want to put the wrong thing.

Is there a guidance document which shows all the maximums/guide levels?

I'm a little worried about petrol as I drive over 100 miles at the weekend and 100 miles in the week to work and back. Public transport isnt available at the weekend as the little village my parents live in doesnt have a bus service on the weekends and walking just isnt an option

Many thanks

C

gatostar · 11 April 2011 at 5:30PM

charley_babe wrote: »

Hi all,

Does anyone know what the guidance is for allowances for food etc.

I don't want to put the wrong thing.

Is there a guidance document which shows all the maximums/guide levels?

I'm a little worried about petrol as I drive over 100 miles at the weekend and 100 miles in the week to work and back. Public transport isnt available at the weekend as the little village my parents live in doesnt have a bus service on the weekends and walking just isnt an option

Many thanks

C

See here:

UPDATED JANUARY 2011 FROM THE OFFICE OF NATIONAL STATISTICS DATA FOR FAMILY EXPENDITURE 2009/10

IMPORTANT NOTES

1) The figures in the table are average household spending in England for non-bankrupt households, which includes the use of credit.
2) Regional variations in some expenditure categories must be considered and local knowledge applied where appropriate.
3) The figures are a guide to compare against the bankrupt's claim for a particular expense, not as an amount that can be automatically claimed.
4) Examiners should seek evidence where an amount claimed does not appear reasonable or fit the particular circumstances.
5) 'Other possible essential expenses' listed are those commonly claimed but evidence should be sought of actual expense.
6) Items listed as non-essential are those requiring closer examination, but the list is not exhaustive.
7) Where available Examiners should compare alternative sources of declared expenditure such as debt management plans or IVA's.
8) The figures provided include expenditure on children where they are dependant members of the household.
9) Examiners should refer to Technical Manual chapter 31.7, Parts 1 to 4 for additional guidance on allowable expenditure.

Categories of essential expenditure

Technical Manual Single retired adult #5 Single non-retired adult Single adult +2 children Two adults +2 children Two adults no children

Mortgage payments or rent on your home 31.7.82-84 variable variable variablevariable variable
Housekeeping, including food and cleaning £197 £197 £317 £488 £363
Gas, electricity, other heating £61 £77 £94 £91 £100
Water £24 £30 £37 £35 £39
Telephone charges 31.7.92 £26 £32 £47 £59 £49
Travelling to and from work and other essential journeys (personal transport) 31.7.124 £33 £75 £68 £163 £157
Travelling to and from work and other essential journeys (public transport) 31.7.125 £11 £25 £23 £55 £53
Clothing 31.7.116 £29 £39 £88 £142 £98
Maintenance payments #1 and fines #2 31.7.119
Council tax #3 variable variable variable variable variable

#1 Formal arrangements only - calculated from net income x 15% for one child, 20% for two children, 25% for three plus children
#2 Court imposed fines only - these cannot be included as bankruptcy debts
#3 Council tax average for England between £90 - £130 per month
#4 Prepaid prescriptions charges (PPC) - £28.25 for 3 months £104 for 12 months - check for exemptions - free in Wales
#5 Not mainly dependant on state pension

Other possible essential expenses - See Technical Manual Technical Manual

TV licence (£142.50 per year or £12 per month) 31.7.110
Insurance policies (except motor) 31.7.117
Mobile phone costs 31.7.92
Dry cleaning 31.7.116
Children's school meals (check for exemptions)
After school clubs and trips 31.7.94
Childcare - if parent/s are working 31.7.95
Dentist31.7.122
Prescriptions #4 (£7.20 per item) - England31.7.121
Opticians31.7.122
Pets (evidence to be provided)31.7.116
Professional body membership (unless paid by employer) 31.7.107
Hairdressing and personal care 31.7.116
Rent arrears 31.7.82
Broadband computer costs 31.7.93
Holidays 31.7.116

Not considered essential expenditure - See Technical Manual

Social and entertainment expenditure 31.7.113
Pocket money for children
Gym membership 31.7.114
Sports and club membership 31.7.114
Satellite and cable TV 31.7.110
Alcohol
Cigarettes
Private healthcare
Excessive mortgage payments 31.7.85-91
Additional pension contributions3 1.7.109
Charity/religious tithing 31.7.115
Cleaning, gardening and ironing services 31.7.116

JCS1 · 11 April 2011 at 5:36PM

Please be careful when using those guidelines. I used to get cases where they entered these figures onto their SOA for every item and I would not accept those. They person then had to re-do their SOA and provide receipts as evidence.

Do your SOA using this template and then post back here for opinions.

http://www.makesenseofcards.com/soacalc.html

IF · 11 April 2011 at 5:50PM

Charley, I see you went BR on 28th March, what were the expenses you put on your 6.28 form??

sizzler · 11 April 2011 at 6:10PM

Just wondering the same if?

Charley please can you clarify so we can try to help:)

fiveyearplan · 11 April 2011 at 7:14PM

Fill in the form from the link in JCS1's post and we can help you amend it. Generally £200 per month is okay for housekeeping for yourself.

charley_babe · 11 April 2011 at 7:48PM

Thanks so much. I have got my form thing from the BR but I put tbc in many categories as everything is very up in the air at the moment.\

I've only been in my flat a few months and no one could tell me what my water / elec / gas would be per month until I had started to use it. None of my wage slips are the same since i've only been in my job since end of jan. The pension hasn't yet been added to the wage slips as it hasn't been set up yet so I don't properly know what my net income is to be once its all settled down.
I'm living on my own for the first time so don't know what my food etc will be and with living in a new place with a new job I didn't know how much the petrol would cost me to get to work and get to my parents every weekend and after work sometimes. Phew, sorry about that.
The idiots who put my br paperwork together messed it up too but putting incorrect figures in it.

Thank you again. I'll go fill the soa in repost.

charley_babe · 11 April 2011 at 10:47PM

Just wondering, what have you put down for hairdressing, holidays, entertainment and presents?

Thanks again

JCS1 · 11 April 2011 at 10:50PM

charley_babe wrote: »

Just wondering, what have you put down for hairdressing, holidays, entertainment and presents?

Thanks again

entertainment and presents not allowed in BR, Hairdressing £10 per month per adult, holidays depends on number of adults and children, if just you £20-30

HOLIDAYMAD_2 · 11 April 2011 at 10:52PM

no alllowance for gifts so im told.

Did you go BR to avoid your new employer finding out as i note it was the 28th march , seems a very disorganised BR and rushed. not critising but conerned as to how you decided on that day to do what you did.

charley_babe · 11 April 2011 at 11:26PM

I had to cancel a few dates as I could not make them due to work commitments and family issues.

I was 'advised' wrongly when to go for BR. Had I known the IPA thing would change I would have done it sooner.

I don't care if my employer finds out. It's not an issue to me.

Allowances / expenses in BR

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