I've bitten the bullet, advice pleeeze!

gambit_2

After lurking for 2 months (and taken comfort from you all) I have now bitten the bullet and actually opened the envelope containing my BK forms. I just need to know when I fill in my SOA do I include (and are they taken into account)? My daughters Child Benefit, Disability Living Allowance and Child Tax Credit. Many thanks

dalip

Hi And welcome
Yes, you have to include them but when the OR works out you I&E they dont count benefits as income.Good luck those forms can be daunting.Dalip

philnicandamy

Gambit welcome....the forms can be a nightmare so if you need anything feel free to post & we'll try to help

StressHead

Welcome Welcome x

Scarlett.1974

Hi and welcome

As dalip said, do include them on the forms, but they won't be taken into account when deciding if you should get an IPA. You just need to list them to show how your budget balances

gambit_2

Thank you for your kind welcomes!! I hope you don't mind if I post my SOA for comment, all monthly, I am a single parent with a 13 year old daughter with ADHD:

Rent £480
Housekeeping £300
Electricity £50
Heating oil £60
Telephone/mobile £50
Petrol £160
Clothing £70
Council tax £107
Car tax £9.58
Car insurance £19.00
House insurance £10
MOT fee £4.50
TV licence £10
Car maintenance £50
Hairdressing £15
Holidays £30
Christmas/birthdays £20
Dog/cat food (one of each) £30
Childcare £200
Contingencies £30

Outgoing: £1705

Income: £2144
Salary £1390
Maintenance £290
Child benefit £72.40
Child tax credit £150.93
Disability Living Allowance £241.00

I wasn't really sure what to put for housekeeping as my daughter (due to her condition) 'grazes' all day, she never stops eating, and unfortunately girls the little bu**er only weighs 8 and a half stone!!! She is so hyper she burns it off.

Also am I allowed to include her £10 a week pocket money and the £5 she gets to go swimming on Friday nights?

As you can see this leaves a deficit of £25 if you take benefits out of the equation. God!! That was so scary seeing it all written down!

I would be really grateful for any feedback, thank you

dalip

Gambit
Not an expert but you need to have over £99 excess before an IPA is imposed.Not sure showing a deficit is a good thing.I think some on here have and nothing was said.I will leave the nitty gritty to the experts.Good luck.Dalip

Scarlett.1974

Right, AFAIK, none of these:

Child benefit £72.40
Child tax credit £150.93
Disability Living Allowance £241.00

should be taken into account when working out if you would get an IPA. I don't know if it was the correct way of doing it, but on my I&E (I also receive DLA, for my son who has ASD), I did this:

Child expenses: £223.33 (CB and CTC)
Child care needs: £241.00

HTH

Scarlett.1974

dalip wrote: »

Gambit
Not an expert but you need to have over £99 excess before an IPA is imposed.Not sure showing a deficit is a good thing.I think some on here have and nothing was said.I will leave the nitty gritty to the experts.Good luck.Dalip

But she hasn't really got a deficit has she?

The benefits will be included only to show how your budget balances, but like I said, certain ones won't be taken into account for IPA purposes.

I can let you know what my OR thought of the way I'd explained mine after Thursday, that's when my interview is

empty_wallet_2

dalip wrote: »

Gambit
Not an expert but you need to have over £99 excess before an IPA is imposed.Not sure showing a deficit is a good thing.I think some on here have and nothing was said.I will leave the nitty gritty to the experts.Good luck.Dalip

Dalip, i've got a deficit of around £50 a month and nothing was said at my OR interview.

The OR may question your high fuel costs and high vehicle maintenance costs as cccs suggests £90 a month for fuel and £25 a month for car maintenance but if they do question it you should be ok if you can show proof of the actual costs. My OR also said he wouldnt normally allow holidays and birthdays but many on here have not had a problem with claiming it, my OR allowed it for me as i had a deficit so wouldnt be liable for an IPA.

I doubt pocket money and swimming will be allowed as its not an essential living expense

gambit_2

Thanks Scarlett, I'd really appreciate that