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Hi
Me again! Next Section is work-related.

Unison/Work insurance
I am in Unison and my partner has to have work insurance (works in a hospital setting) which means literally he cannot work without it. This comes to £30-£40.00 a month and yet again our IP wouldn't put it as an actual proper item last time.

Work Packup/Canteen food/Tea fund
My partner used to take pack up, but now he has a different job and there are no kitchen facilities at all – well actually I should correct that - there is one of them tiny mini fridges for the milk and that’s it! He is also on the move a lot and has no option but to get food from the canteen at whichever site he is on – which has to come out of our tight food budget. We also are both in tea funds at work because there is no option to bring your own tea and milk etc. So, are we allowed to separately budget for work dinners and tea funds, and if so, what would be an acceptable limit?

Works Drinks??
This is a very awkward one and I don't know what people will think of it. At least once a month (in fact three times this month already), my partner spends three days at a time in other areas of the UK teaching. He teaches during the day and then they all go for a meal in the evenings. The problem is, drinks are not paid for and he therefore as to buy them. He sometimes tries to buy the cheapest drink available, but they often buy in rounds so this doesn't work. He can’t get out of these evening sessions as they are classed as being part of the whole event – but it goes through me knowing that he is staying in five star luxury, having a slap up meal (hotel and food paid for) and then having to spend our money on drinks whilst I sit at home eating beans on toast! Can there be any budget for this at all because we honestly cannot get out of it. Again if he didn't do it he would risk his job!
Thanks,Sully

Hi there

Work Insurance - If this is an essential item specifically related to you your IP should have put it forward with an explanatory note. I am personally getting fed up of hearing stories of IPs acting as ultimate judge and jury with regard to someones expenditure. That is for creditors if they feel justified.

Work lunches - need to be included within your housekeeping budget - which may need to be increased as a result. Again the IP should fully explain this to creditors within the proposal.

Drinks - Why does he have to buy the drinks? If this is essential to the performance of his duties, then his employer ought to make him an expense allowance. Sorry I am not very sympathetic with this area - if he needs to do this as part of his job, the employer should pay. You could try putting it forward, but I could guarantee this would be a no no for creditors. Could it be met from your miscellaneous budget?

Regards, Melanie Giles, Insolvency Practitioner for over 20 years.

For further details contact me at http://www.melaniegiles.com and view my IVA blog at: http://melaniegiles.blogs.iva.co.uk

I agree entirely with Melanie, particularly re the drinks allowance. I just cannot see creditors agreeing to it. If buying drinks is an essential part of your partner's job, his employer should give him an expenses budget.

Andrew Wilkinson
Insolvency Practitioner

AccumaGroup - A large insolvency practitioner service based in Manchester.
www.accumagroup.com

Hello again

It's interesting to see the individual responses to your last post and shows how much scope there is in the interpretations of IVAs.

I would say that all Union fees and vital work insurances would be an allowable expense for obvious reasons

Unfortunately I tend to believe that lunches and tea funds at work really should come out of the housekeeping and toiletries budget, and for 2 people I think you would be looking at c£300 / month allowance for this.

Similarly I think the work drink budgets again will need to come out of the housekeeping fund. I don't think it would be very equitable to allow a budget for social drinking for one person and not another in an IVA. I sympathise with your predicament but still feel that this way is fairer.


Best Regards
Oliver

Thomas Charles and Co Ltd.
Experts in personal debt solutions.
Read customer feedback at: www.thomascharles.com/about_us.asp

Hi and again thanks for your comments. With regards to the works drinks, I knew it would be controversial. Basically without giving to much away with regards to what my partner does, basically it is classed as an 'honour' and a privilige to be invited to teach on these particular courses, and therefore expenses are paid for (5 star hotel and meal) but you don't actually get paid for the teaching itself, however, they all go from the event to the restaurant and eat and drink and he just can't get out of it - though I totally understand what you are all saying and will try to make up for this elsewhere - it is just all the other areas are so tight!
Thanks,Sully