Payplan

UpToMyNeckInIt

Hi aliscrapper,

Very interesting how you can provide presumably identical financial information to 2 different firms, and end up with a repayment differential such as you describe. It illustrates how widely the budget guidelines can be interpreted, and how if you have a good case worker on board, they can fight a little harder for your interests.

Just goes to show how important it is for IVA customers to shop-around. In doing so yourself, you have made a decision that potentially saves you £1,000 per Year over your IVA - well done!!!. That saving easily makes the difference between 'merely being able to exist' and 'still being able to live a little'.

A debt-free start to 2014 - cannot ask for more than that. Hope the IVA progresses well for you, and do keep us posted.

aliscrapper

UpToMyNeckInIt wrote: »

Hi aliscrapper,

Very interesting how you can provide presumably identical financial information to 2 different firms, and end up with a repayment differential such as you describe. It illustrates how widely the budget guidelines can be interpreted, and how if you have a good case worker on board, they can fight a little harder for your interests.

That's what I thought. The initial company were adameant that my DLA had to be offset against bills and not my care and it was only when I quoted their Managing Director at them and what they had to say about DLA total amount being offset against care needs they accepted that and then said that they could not deal with an IVA that low in monthly cost so referred me onto Clear Debt who managed to get it sorted in weeks!

Just goes to show how important it is for IVA customers to shop-around. In doing so yourself, you have made a decision that potentially saves you £1,000 per Year over your IVA - well done!!!. That saving easily makes the difference between 'merely being able to exist' and 'still being able to live a little'.

Can't thank you enough for all your guidance and support and encouraging us to read reviews - really did make the whole thing a lot smoother! We really wouldn't have been able to find the higher amount every month so the amount we are paying now is £35 lower than what we had budgetted for - bonus and like you say now able to "live a little"


A debt-free start to 2014 - cannot ask for more than that. Hope the IVA progresses well for you, and do keep us posted.

Definitely!:D

Depth_Charge

aliscrapper wrote: »

Just wanted to pop back and say our IVA was successful. In the end we went with Clear Debt who managed to reduce the original payments suggested by other IVA providers of £250 to £165. Clear debt were brilliant.

Thank you to everyone for their advice and for supporting us thru a stressful time.

Hi

Thanks for the update & feedback, very interesting especially the DLA issue and good luck with your IVA as it sounds a fair deal so to speak!

DLA is a non-means tested benefit paid for care & mobility costs and should basically be offset for care & mobility costs.

I have seen many IVAs where DLA has not been offset either fully or partly which basically is a disgrace in my opinion, having said that there can be exceptional circumstances.

One area under review on the Welfare Reform front is DLA (now PIP for new claimants) with some of the figures I have seen quoted estimating that between 400,000 & 800,000 may lose their DLA entitlement.

Losing DLA can (depending on circumstances) mean that other benefits are affected, reduced or lost which can have a huge impact on incomes and running a vehicle for that matter.

Real food for thought if & where DLA is included in IVAs and not offset accordingly expenditure wise.

Best Wishes

DC

aliscrapper

This was my fear that if my DLA was taken away or reduced we not be able to meet the monthly IVA payments so glad I persisted with it; but like you I find it disgusting that DLA which is meant for care is not offset against the care needs for which you are given it in the first place

Depth_Charge

aliscrapper wrote: »

This was my fear that if my DLA was taken away or reduced we not be able to meet the monthly IVA payments so glad I persisted with it; but like you I find it disgusting that DLA which is meant for care is not offset against the care needs for which you are given it in the first place

Hi

There are a number of areas that overlap with debt advice, benefits being one of them for obvious reasons.

Affordability & sustainability are paramount with any debt solution especially an IVA.

Real care needs to be taken on the income & expenditure agreements or serious problems could be waiting down the line

Any good IVA company should understand benefits in my opinion and the potential impact of the on going and future welfare reforms and changes.

Anyone thinking of entering an IVA would do well to make sure they fully understand this area

My take as always

DC

aliscrapper

Depth_Charge wrote: »

Hi

There are a number of areas that overlap with debt advice, benefits being one of them for obvious reasons.

Affordability & sustainability are paramount with any debt solution especially an IVA.

Real care needs to be taken on the income & expenditure agreements or serious problems could be waiting down the line

Any good IVA company should understand benefits in my opinion and the potential impact of the on going and future welfare reforms and changes.

Anyone thinking of entering an IVA would do well to make sure they fully understand this area

My take as always

DC

Couldn't agree with you more. So glad that I persevered in standing our ground in having my DLA offset in full against my care needs and so glad I managed to quote the Managing Director's comments at that company - otherwise we would be stuck with an IVA that we could not sustain the payments with should my circumstances/benefits be changed with the reforms.