Advice on SOA / IPA during maternity leave

dibbydog

Advice on SOA / IPA during maternity leave

Hi, I went bankrupt in July 2010, was discharged in July 2011, and shortly after had my 1st child. When I went on maternity leave my IPA was temporarily suspended. I went back to work for 1 week before taking my next set of maternity leave early for my second child (due to problems with the pregnancy). The IPA was again temporarily suspended.

I have recived a letter today requesting I complete a new SOA in order that they may reassess my IPA.

My maternity leave does not end until August - my 36 months would be up in July - so my financial status hasn't really changed so not sure why they want to reassess it now.

In terms of the SOA I'm not sure what to put in terms of outgoings and what evidence to provide.

As it stands my income is only child benefit and statutory maternity pay which will end next month so thereafter my income will just be child benefit.

In terms of outgoings, I have since moved in with the father of my children and as he pays all the bills etc any income i have goes into another account (in my name as didn't want to get one in joint names) out of which he takes out what is needed as and when for car services, insurance, children's clothes etc. None of the bills etc are in my name.

Any-one else been here?
Any advice?

Many thanks in advance

sniggings

all you can do is fill it in, seems a waste of time.

mattannar

So basically your CB and maternity pay are spare money as your other half pays all the bills. They cannot touch the CB but could have the maternity pay , which is I do not think is classed as a benefit.

dibbydog

Hi

It's not spare money as such. The partner pays for the daily bills, but then takes out when he's short - usually to pay the none monthly bills such as gas, water, insurance, car service/repairs/MOT, house repairs, clothes for children etc and when he hasn't quite got enough for the monthly bills. So it's not surplus in that sense.

silvercar

In terms of the SOA you would put your share of the outgoings and your income. If you income is child benefit and maternity pay then you put that. Your share of the bills is more difficult, if your partner didn't wish to give his income (and he has no obligation to) then all the OR can do is assume you have a 50/50 split of bills. So they would assess your income against that in deciding if you should pay towards an IPA.

^^That is my understanding from reading this forum.

I would consider not using words that imply your money is spare unless your partner needs it and instead talk about agreed money set aside for bigger bills that come along.