where is the Hardship guide??

pool-hustler

How much do they allow you to put for:

1. Shopping
2. Clothes
3. Spending
4. Fuel

How can we measure if we are overspending? Where is the guide? Does anyone have these figures????
Help??

esmerellda

pool-hustler wrote: »

How much do they allow you to put for:

1. Shopping
2. Clothes
3. Spending
4. Fuel

How can we measure if we are overspending? Where is the guide? Does anyone have these figures????
Help??

Put what you spend, if you think you are spending too much, then you probably are.

Remember the bank most likely can see what you spend (esp if you use a debit card) so it will be quite obvious if you are under or over exagerating massively.

If your outgoings exceed your incomings is another good hint theres an issue.

pool-hustler

Thanks but I would like to know how it is evaluated?
Can that be answered by anyone?

esmerellda

pool-hustler wrote: »

Thanks but I would like to know how it is evaluated?
Can that be answered by anyone?

It is evaluated by comparing what you spend to 'trigger' figures which are decided upon by industry, the BBA and the MoneyAdviceTrust. The trigger figures are private. They are kind of allowances for adults / children etc and if you are above them then they would look at whether you can reduce them, if below whether you can arrange things to have more available - basically.

If you complete a CFS (common financial statement) and go through it with CCCS or CAB or someone like that they will be able to guide you thorugh completion and give you an idea if you are overspending.

pool-hustler

surely someone must have an idea??????

natweststaffmember

pool-hustler wrote: »

surely someone must have an idea??????

People are but you need to be honest and not simply pluck figures out of thin air cos it is something that can go against you. The trigger figures are commercially confidential so even if I knew the answer, I wouldn't post it on here or give it via PM either.

pool-hustler

why are they confidential?
Sounds cloak and dagger to me?

BigCraigJohn

Surely it will vary between individuals, ie someone earning £2k a month with a house in Surrey will be spending more than someone earning £700 in Wigan yet they might not be any better off, just things cost a lot more down there, rent/mortgage will be higher, food, clothes, petrol everything. Surely the ultimate point is your outgoings in comparison to incomings.

pool-hustler

no chance mate.
They don't care if you earn more. It's what you are spending it on.
Thats why I want to know how they judge ie how much we should spend on grocery's. Not even Natweststaffmember will tell me.
Sounds like Al Pacino's The Firm!

natweststaffmember

pool-hustler wrote: »

no chance mate.
They don't care if you earn more. It's what you are spending it on.
Thats why I want to know how they judge ie how much we should spend on grocery's. Not even Natweststaffmember will tell me.
Sounds like Al Pacino's The Firm!

Why is it important to you? Why do you not go the the Citizen's advice bureau and they can go through an income and expenditure form and you can quiz them face to face?
Are you trying to lie to make you seem worse off? Why are you wasting your time worrying about how much is the maximum for this or for that?

BE HONEST is the advice so either follow it or go to the CAB and interrogate them on the figures.

esmerellda

Joseph Rowntree Foundation
Money Advice Trust
Minimum Income Standards Board - http://www.minimumincome.org.uk/ try the calculator - be aware these figures are quite high tho.


The figures are confidential to advice workers because otherwise people amend their income and expenditure statements to ''fit'' and the true position isnt found.

http://www.cfs.moneyadvicetrust.org/