First go at an SOA, advice welcome

rufus79

Ok, so I have updated it a bit. I have also added holiday, but not sure if a single person can have this or only families?

Rent(inc of bills) £330
Household costs £180
Healthcare/optical £15
Travel (bus pass) £30
Haircuts £10
Telephone £25
Emergencies £20
Clothes £40
Food at work £10
Holiday £20

Total £680

allofadither

Ok...£10 for meals at work seems fine to me but other see what other people suggest as well. Also, you are allowed something for holidays, but I'm not sure whether having holidays and emergencies would be pushing things. Again, see what other people on here think.

If you're not servicing your debts then you should have enough to live on, which is not unreasonable.

savagevixen

Prescriptions £7
Dentist £10
Food at Work £15 (per month? at least £15)
Laundry £16
Mobile £10 (your-Telephone £25 is quite low does it include Internet?)
TV License £12 (or is it all included?)

savagevixen

Maybe put
Holiday/Emergencies/Household Repair £30-35 instead of Holidays and Emergencies

rufus79

Right, okay, another updated;)

Rent(inc of bills) £330
Household costs £180
Healthcare/optical/dental £20
Travel (bus pass) £34
Haircuts £10
Telephone £30
Emergencies/repairs £30
Clothes £40
Food at work £15

Total £689


I don't pay for my own TV liscence, so can't put that down just in case they check to see if I have one! I have just checked, and a 4 week bus pass is actually £34 so have updated that. Also added dental to health costs, and combined emergencies and repairs to hide holiday.

Its particularly hard as my income is uncertain!

rufus79

Just a though - what happens if, on paper, your income is less than your ougoings? Do they make you reduce outgoings, meaning that if it increases you will have to pay an IPA even if the figures match your original SOA??

allofadither

Rufus, my SoA had a negative for surplus income, and I think it is quite *normal* for this to happen. The OR can make you reduce your outgoings if they think some or all of the figures are excessive. But if you have documentary evidence to support your figs that always helps if needed. You have to have at least £100 surplus income, I think, before an IPA is considered. If I'm wrong someone will correct me.

savagevixen

I can't see how on earth someone with an income of £600-£800 will have to pay an IPA. That would be ridiculous.

Surely you qualify for some Housing/council tax benefit?

savagevixen

And how old are you? (Not being rude just wondering) My brother is 27 and he earns more than that, yet he receives a substancial amount of Tax Credits? I just can't beleive you have to survive on that amount of money.

rufus79

I'm 27. I haven't yet looked into tax credits etc, my income is about to half, as my job is practically killing me now I don't have a car, which I couldn't replace with no money, and my IVA wouldn't allow me to get finance for (not that I would want to get any more debt, if anyone would even give it to me).