Allowances on SOA

threegreedydogs

I'm about to start completing a SOA prior to bankruptcy. I have a spreadsheet entitled Household Expenditure and professing to contain numbers provided by the Office of National Statistics, last updated in January 2010.

This data suggests that two adults with no children at home ought to be able to clam £45 per person, per week for food and housekeeping (presumably including washing powder, cleaning materials, etc).

As for electricity, this is placed at £21 per week for two adults, no children.

Given that energy costs have, according to the ONS themselves, risen by 37% in the three years since January 2010, and food price inflation has been running at over 4% per annum over the same period, is there any scope to increase the amount claimed in the SAO? Or are bankrupts supposed to live on an amount below that provided by the state for the unemployed?

Is there a more up-to-date set of allowances available anywhere?

luvchocolate

those are guidelines for the O.R you put down on your S.O.A what you spend...everyone is different, pop it on here when you have done it and the clever fokls on here will take a look and advice you on it

debt_doctor

Hi,


Just put whatever you feel is reasonable (not basic) and don't budge from that point. We could give an opinion of reasonableness if you post your expenses on here.
The Insolvency Services ridiculous 'household expenditure survey' does not exist in law - but catering for the REASONABLE domestic needs of the bankrupt does exist in law.
Do you think footballers and the like are limited to £45 per person for food? - no they are not, they get a specialist insolvency solicitor to challenge the IS - and win.


DD

battyboimatt

Post's like this annoy me grrrrr, it's like what are the maximum I can put down to get my income as low as possible so I avoid paying an IPA, well I'm sorry why not try and be honest and put down what you actually spend on the forms surely that would give you an honest look at your finances. I'm sorry if I sound off but it just annoys me, I was completely honest in my forms and yes I have £150 pound a month IPA for three years, but to me I was over 36K in debt I was paying out in minimum payments close to £800 a month so to me that £150 a month is nothing compared to what I was been left with after minimum payments and trust me it wasn't alot, so in my eyes for £5400 i.e.. 150 x 36 for well over 36K is a bloody good deal and I can live with it, the OR was more then generous with my allowances and even upped some of mine when he said it wasn't high enough. Rant over just be honest. On the plus side only 5 more IPA payments and then I am done.

longtermplanner

Knowing what the 'maximums' are however can be a help if your expenditure is over a maximum in some areas and under in others. By putting down amounts that aren't going to be queried, you can save a lot of trouble. It's up to you what you actually spend the money on.

Trinitrotoluene

battyboimatt wrote: »

Post's like this annoy me grrrrr, it's like what are the maximum I can put down to get my income as low as possible so I avoid paying an IPA, well I'm sorry why not try and be honest and put down what you actually spend on the forms surely that would give you an honest look at your finances. I'm sorry if I sound off but it just annoys me, I was completely honest in my forms and yes I have £150 pound a month IPA for three years, but to me I was over 36K in debt I was paying out in minimum payments close to £800 a month so to me that £150 a month is nothing compared to what I was been left with after minimum payments and trust me it wasn't alot, so in my eyes for £5400 i.e.. 150 x 36 for well over 36K is a bloody good deal and I can live with it, the OR was more then generous with my allowances and even upped some of mine when he said it wasn't high enough. Rant over just be honest. On the plus side only 5 more IPA payments and then I am done.

In my opinion it gets progressively harder the more people you have to account for on the SOA (when you have children etc). It's very easy to underestimate the amount you spend on things. You have the right attitude though, and for that I applaud you. :T