IVA annual review - SOA - What do you think?

N71

I posted on here last week - that a year into IVA i'm struggling to make ends meet.

Its 16 sleeps til payday, and this month, after the direct debits have gone, i've got £3.53 left!!!

This morning i received a form from my IVA supplier, asking for current income/expenditure details.

I've filled it in, as below;

Wage 516.55
Tax Credits 730.00
Child bens 130.00
DLA 240.00 (This is for my eldest child)

Total Income: £1616.55 per month.

Rent 242.79
Insurance 14.85
Council Tax 67.00
Water 25.27
Elec & Gas 117.00 (High due to washer/dryer on constantly for son)
Phone 30.00
Food 400.00 (No change -this is what was allowed last year)
Clothing 60.00
Childcare 120.00
TV Licence 10.99
TV& B'band 32.47
IVA 280.00
Parking work 80.00
Nappies 30.00 (For disabled son in additional children costs)
Gym/Physio 25.00 (as above)
Dance 22.00
Swimming 20.00 (as above)

Total outgoings = £ 1767.37

Leaving a shortfall of £ 150.82 per month.

Obviously, i'm trying to spend as little as possible on food shopping and am shopping around at Aldi/Lidl.

I've sold just about everything i can think of on Ebay - this has helped get through the past year.

The nappies, gym, physio and swimming for my son weren't included last year, because I didn't think they were allowed - although the IVA take his DLA into account as my income.

What do you think the outcome will be from the IVA provider? I'm really fed up trying to scrimp & save but still being skint!

Looking back, bankruptcy would have made more sense - but is it too late now? Will the IVA provider make me bankrupt as I can't affort to pay any extra this year, and ideally need to pay about £130.00 less!!

Any ideas/opinions would be welcome.

lynzpower

well the bottom line is this as far as I can tell.

it does look like theres a number of cutbacks you can make for exmaple

This morning i received a form from my IVA supplier, asking for current income/expenditure details.

I've filled it in, as below;

Wage 516.55
Tax Credits 730.00
Child bens 130.00
DLA 240.00 (This is for my eldest child)
Do you not get council tax benefit & housing benefit? is there only one person in the household working?

Total Income: £1616.55 per month.

Rent 242.79 ( housing ben should help with this?)
Insurance 14.85 ( whats this contents? Try Ltsb mine only cost 6.odd a onth and thats not including the 125 cashback!)
Council Tax 67.00 ( again shouldnt CTB be paying tihs?)
Water 25.27
Elec & Gas 117.00 (High due to washer/dryer on constantly for son) You need to break this down. Im a keen one for washing, and wash at least 3 times a day, and mines never that high, however, I dont use the fdryer often. TBH if you are using the dryer it might be worthwhile spending or scavenging for maidens or a rotary washing line etc, it will save you a fortune.
Phone 30.00
Food 400.00 (No change -this is what was allowed last year) ( yes, but you dont have to spend it how many people are you feeding, well done for going to lidls tho
Clothing 60.00 ( again, its there, but you dont HAVE to spend it? )
Childcare 120.00 (is there ANYthing cheaper- eg your children with doisabilityies social work team might be able to sort out some childcare out of thir respite budget?)
TV Licence 10.99
TV& B'band 32.47 ( dump the TV & get the cheapest broadband you can at a tenner a montH)
IVA 280.00
Parking work 80.00 ( this is a lot, is there nothing cheaper? park & ride? )
Nappies 30.00 (For disabled son in additional children costs)
Gym/Physio 25.00 (as above) ( shouldnt the NHS be paying for this direct?)
Dance 22.00
Swimming 20.00 (as above)

Total outgoings = £ 1767.37

Leaving a shortfall of £ 150.82 per month.

Obviously, i'm trying to spend as little as possible on food shopping and am shopping around at Aldi/Lidl.

I've sold just about everything i can think of on Ebay - this has helped get through the past year.

The nappies, gym, physio and swimming for my son weren't included last year, because I didn't think they were allowed - although the IVA take his DLA into account as my income.

What do you think the outcome will be from the IVA provider? I'm really fed up trying to scrimp & save but still being skint!

Looking back, bankruptcy would have made more sense - but is it too late now? Will the IVA provider make me bankrupt as I can't affort to pay any extra this year, and ideally need to pay about £130.00 less!!

How long have you got on your IVA?

N71

Hi, Thanks for replying.

The council tax figure includes 25% off for being the only adult in the household.

I earn too much!?! to be entitled to housing benefit.

Insurance is only contents - but i've only just taken it out. It used to be £25.00.

£400 food is just what i left it at, as that was what they allowed last year. I'm trying to spend as little as possible - thats how i've managed to not need more credit this last year. (just about!)

Don't get me started on the social work team!!!! Everytime i've asked for help, i'm put on a waiting list. Some as long as 8 years!!

Parking - looking into contract parking, when theres space available. Work fits in with school times, but only just, so public transport wouldn't be quick enought. I start work at 8.45 (15 mins after dropping DD off) and finish at 3 (15 mins before collecting DD) - and its a 10 mile trip!

He has physio at school - but thats all we're entitled to at the moment (we're on several waiting lists!). The out of school activities help him with physio, but also with communication/mixing with people. (He's also severely autistic).

4 years to go on the IVA.


I included the physio/gym/swimming/nappies as sons expenses - because I thought it only fair if they're including his DLA as income.

Also, the food/clothing allowance I left at the amounts allowed last year - but i'm trying to spend as little as possible.