www.iva.co.uk

can you please tell me what the min amount is that i can claim for food for 2 people,thanks

Hi,

What we normally say on here is to put down exactly what you spend on food etc., your IP will tell you if it is too much.

Hi
The CCCS guidelines state between 185 and 313 pounds for a couple
Regards

Why is there such a big difference between minimum and maximum for a couple?

The guidelines do not seem to make any sense Jan when you see disparities like this. A single person is allowed between £96 and £195 but who could live on £96 per month for food, toiletries and cleaning???

Even the maximum allowances are not generous but the minimum wouldn't be enough to live on Lidl beans and toast for five years!

There is 3 of us (1 Little person) My allowance is £392 for a month but I find that I'm cutting corners, my little one is still in nappies and these cost around £7 per pack which lasts little over a week. But if there are 5 weekends in a month then I am really really stretched.

(When we first done our I&E my IP asked if I could shop somewhere cheaper, I get things cheaper where I can but not going to numerous shops for different bits)

Hi
I think the guidelines must be due for an update soon
Regards

I do think the guidelines do need updating as all our shopping and utilities are increasing. We can all cut back so far but sometimes it becomes impossible and we do need a little luxury now and then to keep us going within an IVA.

The CCCS tell us that that their figures are based upon market research of what is actually spent by their own clients on the various categories.

Brigadeen,I think it's wrong to try and tell us where to shop (unless of course you choose to shop at Fortnum and Mason!). Some of us don't have a choice in supermarkets due to location. I mostly use Asda and Tesco.

We have actually put our allowances for petrol and housekeeping up this year and been allowed to do so.

I dont understand why the guidelines arent assessed every year.

And Jan,I dont think you will be alone in asking for an increase in housekeeping and given that over the past 6 months fuel had steadily crept back up and food prices continue to rise at a steady rate!!!

Paul

Perhaps if the CCCS representative who occasionally posts on the forum is looking in, she could tell us when these guidelines are due to be updated.

The silence is deafening!

Hello,

Sorry for the delay in replying I was not in the office yesterday.

The guidelines are combination of a review of the retail price index, a review of the last several months CCCS client budget figures and an alignment/check with the BBA/MAT guideline figures to make sure that we are not quoting below these figures, it is a very detailed process we go through every year.

They are just "guidelines" and to be used as that. If there is a reason why expenditure is higher then you just need to explain this to your IP/ DMP provider. For example having to buy nappies or having special diary requirements.

There does have to be some type of guideline when working towards a budget or you could have the extremes of someone spending nowhere near enough and someone overspending. I have spoken to a very wide variety of clients, some people who receiving income support and spending under the guideline and then people who have not experienced financial difficulties in the past so have never had to budget and may be spending much more.

If there have been changes to someone's life i.e. made redundant, then costs do have to reduce in the budget as there will be no way of supporting overspending on a such a low income. For example a single person claiming job seekers allowance receives £64 per week and if they are spending the top end of the guidelines (£195) or over, this would leave them with only £19 per week to pay for gas, electric, transport, clothes and all other essential items. Something has got to give or the budget would not be sustainable and their situation could become worse.

Sarah

so are you saying that you review the guideline figures every year? When can we expect to see the figures rise next?

Thankyou for posting a response.

Paul