No Marky, I believe an alcoholic can't claim for booze. It would have to be funded from your weekly allowances.
Julie - I imagine debt problems could cause you to smoke a lot more. I know I used to smoke more when I was stressed.
Never used to drink more though.
Sharing from experiences of dealing with debt
The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively.
Bob Marley. http://kallis3.blogs.iva.co.uk
I didn't think you were, but I don't think they make allowances for that.
Sharing from experiences of dealing with debt
The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively.
Bob Marley. http://kallis3.blogs.iva.co.uk
Seriously though Marky brings up a good point....why should one get an allowance and the other not? They're both legal and both harmful to your health.
I am sure that this subject has been brought up either on here or the BR site before.
It is a very emotive subject. I'm sure though that alcoholics haven't been allowed anything though.
Sharing from experiences of dealing with debt
The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively.
Bob Marley. http://kallis3.blogs.iva.co.uk
I do not believe that any IP would propose an IVA if they knew that their client was an alcoholic because the payments would not be met. Smoking is hugely different as it does not lead to days off work, wifebeating and deaths on the road. The allowance is quite small in relation to the actual cost and if you smoke more than allowed for you need to find the money from elsewhere.
If creditors are to be allowed to try and force people off cigarettes the IVAs will fail and this is to no one's benefit. Also would be the next allowance to go be for pets because a creditor did not like cats? IVAs are hard enough to achieve with the restrictions that clients have to live under and any further cuts to allowances of any kind should be fiercely resisted.
Last edited by Michael Peoples on Fri Nov 27, 2009 9:22 am, edited 1 time in total.
Sharing from experiences of dealing with debt
The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively.
Bob Marley. http://kallis3.blogs.iva.co.uk
Michael, I have heard of people being told they shouldn't have pets. Someone on another forum that I look at occasionally went BR because her IP told her to have her dogs put to sleep as creditors wouldn't allow her to keep them.
This was a while ago so I sincerely hope that IP is no longer practicing, but it's scary that vulnerable people can be told things like that. Not everyone is lucky enough to have found this forum.
It is not up to IPs to tell people how to live their lives. IVAs are not prison sentences and any IP who tells someone to put animals to sleep does not deserve to hold a licence.
It is our job to put forward the client's best offer and not dictate what they can and cannot do. As Melanie says on another thread the IP is wrong to refuse to allow a client who is self employed insurance against critical illness. Put it in the proposal and if creditors object it can be resolved at the meeting. It is the debtor's proposal and not the IPs and some IPs would do well to remember this.
