Income and budget reviews

Income and budget reviews are a great way to help you find out how much you have each month to spend in an affordable way.  

They can be used to help you manage your finances more beneficially, especially if you are in debt, and help identify how much rent you can afford.

In its basic form looks at what money you have coming in and what money you have going out and what you have left over.  

Arrange an appointment for an income and budget review 

Call us on 01353 665555 or email housingservices@eastcambs.gov.uk 

You could also visit one of our drop-in clinics.

Gather useful documents

Below is a list of information we require to carry out an income and budget review: 

  • 3 months up-to-date bank statements for all bank and building society accounts, regardless of whether they are used or not
  • a copy of all recent transactions since your last statement, up to as close to your appointment date as possible for all bank and building society accounts
  • 3 months up-to-date wage slips, and/or proof of self-employment earnings, and/or pension statements 
  • letters confirming Tax Credits/PIP/ESA/DLA
  • 3 months up-to-date Universal Credit full statements
  • ID for the whole household  

Payslips

You should receive a payslip each time you are paid from your employer, this may be a physical paper wage slip but it may also be digital either an email or through an app.  

You can always ask your employer for copies if you do not have them. We need to see the actual wage slips because we need to see what you are paid before and after Tax and National Insurance.  

Self-employment evidence would include:  

  • most recent tax return  
  • up to date profit and loss statement - this may be a spreadsheet showing your business income and expenditure  
  • certificate of tax deducted if the tax is deducted before you are paid 

If you are self-employed we would need to see your profit and loss statement (this may be a spreadsheet showing your business income and expenditure), certificates of tax deducted if the tax is deducted before you are paid, as well as a copy of your most recent tax return.  

If you have one, you can ask your accountant, and they should be able to raise all this information for you. 

Identification

For adults in the household either:  

  • Passport or National Identity Card (or other residency cards/documents)  

or any two of the following:  

  • birth/adoption certificate  
  • current full or provisional driving licence  
  • letter from a UK government department or local authority dated within the last 3 months  
  • Criminal Record Check issued within the last three months  

For children in the household either:  

  • passport, National Identity Card or birth/adoption certificate   

If you are having any trouble getting a birth certificate or passport we can sometimes work with you and arrange to pay for you to get a copy.  

How it can help you  

By seeing what you have coming in and going out, we can see if there is anything to help boost your income and maybe even spot if you are entitled to apply for any further benefits.  

Having an income and budget review done can often highlight for you where you may easily save money each month. Knowing how much you can afford in rent will make things a lot easier when looking for a new home.  

With a completed income and budget review our housing team may even be able to help lend you the money for a deposit.  

Universal Credit personal budgeting support 

Personal budgeting support Is offered to claimants who receive Universal Credit.  Your work coach will discuss what is available to you.  

The support they offer can be general money advice, making you aware of online tools available to you or it can be bespoke, tailored advice that is delivered by a member of our Housing team

Personal budgeting support at the council can be arranged via your work coach or yourself by calling 01353 665555 to make an appointment.

The Money Advice Service has a wealth of information regarding budgeting and money management support available online. 

Contact us

Telephone: 01353 665555 
Email: communityadviceservice@eastcambs.gov.uk