Alcohol and Cigarettes are There ?

sourcrates

VeryInTheRed wrote: »

Sourcrates,

Please re-read the last sentence of my post. Your comment is not relevant to the thread.

Thank you.

Not a lecture, just good advice my friend.

VeryInTheRed

The thread was about the new online application and the fact smoking is listed as an expense.

It is now about the 'principle' of whether smoking should be allowed and about 'you should stop smoking'.

Back to topic please.

peterkay369

Just because it is listed, does not mean you are allowed it. The OR will highly likely deduct it from your expenses. I asked the question in my OR interview and was told they don't allow anything for smoking/alcohol, however once your expenditure form has been accepted it is your choice what you do with your money.

To put it bluntly, you will have to quit. Unless you're going to choose to smoke instead of eat, the money will have to come from somewhere else.

Butts

peterkay369 wrote: »

Just because it is listed, does not mean you are allowed it. The OR will highly likely deduct it from your expenses. I asked the question in my OR interview and was told they don't allow anything for smoking/alcohol, however once your expenditure form has been accepted it is your choice what you do with your money.

To put it bluntly, you will have to quit. Unless you're going to choose to smoke instead of eat, the money will have to come from somewhere else.

I tend to share your view that it will probably not be allowed. If that is the case why is it listed ?

Are we to assume that Hobbies,Leisure and sport , Newspapers and Gifts (which also have their own individual sections) are not allowed either ?

It would help immensely if you pardon the pun -"smoke and mirrors" approach was replaced by clear guidelines as part of the process what you can actually claim for and how much (where non-variable). There is nothing on the "real form" that addresses this.

StopIt

Butts wrote: »

I tend to share your view that it will probably not be allowed. If that is the case why is it listed ?

Are we to assume that Hobbies,Leisure and sport , Newspapers and Gifts (which also have their own individual sections) are not allowed either ?

It would help immensely if you pardon the pun -"smoke and mirrors" approach was replaced by clear guidelines as part of the process what you can actually claim for and how much (where non-variable). There is nothing on the "real form" that addresses this.

The SOA is meant to be telling the OR what you currently spend. it's not a set of targets to hit.


The OR is then meant to judge what of your spending is actually acceptable. While it sounds unfair, the removal of public guidelines was probably to stop people claiming the maximum spend possible, rather than telling the OR what they spending.


Of course, it wont take long for the likes od Debt Doctor and the CAB etc from working these allowances out so people can be advised what is likely to be deemed acceptable or not.


Smoking is likely to be classed as a non essential spend, and alcohol almost certain and I don't see that being changed because someone struggles to quit I'm afraid.

peterkay369

StopIt has hit the nail on the head there.

The OR will have a full copies of your bank statements so they'll know if expenses are being greatly exaggerated purely to avoid an IPA, and things are much stricter now from what I've read.

No one is judging you or lecturing you for smoking, however the OR will not allow the expenses so it will be a case of if you cannot quit, you are going to have to cut yourself short on your other essential spending such as food, clothing etc.

jonesy1973

anyone struggling to pack in the fags, please try and read, stop smoking with cbt by dr max pemberton. it has saved me a fortune and probably my life. been quit 11 months. havnt looked back. was smoking 20 a day, more on a weekend. :beer::beer::beer:

Butts

peterkay369 wrote: »

StopIt has hit the nail on the head there.

The OR will have a full copies of your bank statements so they'll know if expenses are being greatly exaggerated purely to avoid an IPA, and things are much stricter now from what I've read.

No one is judging you or lecturing you for smoking, however the OR will not allow the expenses so it will be a case of if you cannot quit, you are going to have to cut yourself short on your other essential spending such as food, clothing etc.

So if money is being drawn out in cash how are they going to know what you are spending it on ?

peterkay369

If you are withdrawing large amounts of cash, they will most likely ask what it's for and for copies receipts etc. If it is for an "essential item" such as food and you cannot produce receipts, they will revert to their standard figures.

The OR questioned me about this, as I pay for all my food shopping in case (it helps me to budget) and I supplied them with 3 months of receipts I think it was

Butts

peterkay369 wrote: »

If you are withdrawing large amounts of cash, they will most likely ask what it's for and for copies receipts etc. If it is for an "essential item" such as food and you cannot produce receipts, they will revert to their standard figures.

The OR questioned me about this, as I pay for all my food shopping in case (it helps me to budget) and I supplied them with 3 months of receipts I think it was

Was your food expenditure above the guidelines to warrant the production of receipts ?