Combining income

I started working 2nd October 2019, but I I’ll only have 12 payslips by the time I apply, however I’ve been told that I’d need 13 payslips (I’m paid every 2 weeks) in order to combine income with my (British) husband’s income under category A. This doesn’t sound right as 6 months would be 12 payslips. Also, if my husband earns enough to meet the financial requirement with just his income, but had 1 pay that was only 1,100 within the last 6 months, is that going to be the amount that is used in the calculations? He’s worked there nearly 2 years. Should we send more than 6 months payslips? This is for FLR(M) 5 year route

I started working 2nd October 2019, but I I’ll only have 12 payslips by the time I apply, however I’ve been told that I’d need 13 payslips (I’m paid every 2 weeks) in order to combine income with my (British) husband’s income under category A. This doesn’t sound right as 6 months would be 12 payslips.

There's no specific number of payslips that you have to send. The number you require will depend on how many you need to cover at least 6 months of income.

If you started working on 2nd October 2019, then you will reach 6 months of income on 2nd April...however, the 6 months that will be used for the income calculation will depend on the exact dates printed on your payslips.

So, you need to look at the date on your first payslip and then count forward 6 months from that date... so say your first payslip was issued on 18th October (2.5 weeks after you started), and it just says 18th October on it (not 2nd to 18th October), then your 6 months will be 18th October to 18th April.

So, you must send every payslip issued between those 2 dates, with the first payslip explicitly covering 18th October and the last payslip explicitly covering 18th April. This may mean waiting until you get the payslip from the end of April before you can apply.

Also, if my husband earns enough to meet the financial requirement with just his income, but had 1 pay that was only 1,100 within the last 6 months, is that going to be the amount that is used in the calculations? He’s worked there nearly 2 years. Should we send more than 6 months payslips? This is for FLR(M) 5 year route

If he is Category A, you send 6 months only. No other payslips will be considered.

How his income is calculated will depend on whether he is salaried or non-salaried.

If he is a salaried employee (fixed annual salary as stipulated on his contract), then only the £1,100 payslip will be considered and his income will be calculated as:
£1,110 x 12 months = £13,200
Which means that if you only use his income, the visa will be refused.

If he is non-salaried and paid by the hour, then they will add up all 6 months of payslips, divide by 6 and multiply by 12 to get his average annual income... as long as this figure is at least £18,600, it will meet the requirements.

If it's the case of the former example (he is salaried), then either you can combine your income with his under Category A, or if he has earned at least £18,600 in total in the last 12 months (before tax) he can provide 12 months of payslips and bank statements under Category B instead.

The financial requirement is the amount before taxes though, isn’t it or have I read that part wrong?

The financial requirement is the amount before taxes though, isn’t it or have I read that part wrong?

Yes, that’s correct. It’s the income shown on the payslip(s) before tax.


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Ok thank you for clarifying all of that for me. It does lead me to more questions, however. I need to apply by the end of March so just trying to get all of my ducks in a row. My husband is non salaried, but his income is pushing things quite short which is where I was hoping to come into play with my income. Is cat B something we could apply for with joining our income together, or will he need to have earned the money all himself? I understand that route is more paperwork (12 months payslips/bank statements and a letter from employer), but if it’s something we can do, I’d feel more confident with that if my income can be used too.

But it’s my understanding that the financial requirement needs to be met by actual income earned for 12 months and their calculated amount as well? I wasn’t working before I got this job so will that mean I can’t apply under cat b either?

Is cat B something we could apply for with joining our income together, or will he need to have earned the money all himself? I understand that route is more paperwork (12 months payslips/bank statements and a letter from employer), but if it’s something we can do, I’d feel more confident with that if my income can be used too.

You can combine your income in whatever way you need to in order to meet the requirements. However, you BOTH must meet the Category you are applying under.

You DO NOT need to have been employed for the entire 12 months for Category B... it’s total income from any and all jobs either or both of you have held in the last 12 months.

Since you will not have been with your current employer for 6 months before you apply in March, if you will be combining your income you actually CANNOT use Category A anyway because your income will not qualify under Category A.

Therefore you will have no choice but to use Category B if you need to combine your income.

So, for Category B you need:
- 12 months of his payslips and bank statements
- 12 months of your payslips and bank statements (or as many as you have from the last 12 months)
- letter from his employer confirming income and job
- letter from your employer confirming income and job
Optional:
- job contracts
- latest P60

As long as your annual incomes combined is more than £18,600 AND your total payslips combined is more than £18,600, you will meet the requirements.




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Ok that’s a huge relief. I read that part in the appendix as each individual will need to have been earning a total of x amount in order to qualify for cat b, but it makes sense, what you’ve said. I’m beyond mentally drained from this so can’t think straight lately 😓. Thank you for all of your help!

Ok that’s a huge relief. I read that part in the appendix as each individual will need to have been earning a total of x amount in order to qualify for cat b, but it makes sense, what you’ve said. I’m beyond mentally drained from this so can’t think straight lately . Thank you for all of your help!

There is no requirement for the individuals to earn a specific amount each... all they need to show is that:
- they are both employed with a combined income of £18,600 or more
- they made a combined income of £18,600 or more in the last 12 months

One of you could be earning £18,500 per year and the other only £100 and it wouldn’t matter.

Or one of you could have earned £10,000 in the first 6 months, then been unemployed for 4 months, then earned £2,000 in the last 2 months, while the other was unemployed for 6 months then earned £6,600 in the last 6 months.

It doesn’t matter how or when during the 12 months you earned the money, just that you earned it.

From Appendix FM 1.7 regarding Category B:

5.3.1. This category can be used where the applicant’s partner (and/or the applicant if they are in the UK with permission to work) is in salaried or non-salaried employment at the date of application, but has not been with the same employer and/or not earning the income level relied upon in the application for at least 6 months prior to the date of application. It can therefore be used by those who have been with their current employer for less than 6 months, or who have been with their current employer for at least 6 months but earning a variable income and wish to be considered in this category rather than under Category A.

And an example where they are combining their income:

Example (d)
The applicant (with permission to work) and his partner are both in employment in the UK at the date of application.
The applicant earns £12,000 a year and has been earning that level of income with the same employer for 17 months.

The applicant’s partner has recently moved to a new job earning £10,000 a year and has only been in her current employment for 3 months. However, she has received £12,000 in employment income in the 12 months prior to the date of application.
                 
If the applicant’s partner had been in her current job at that level of annual earnings for at least 6 months, the applicant could have combined their current levels of annual earnings under Category A: £12,000 + £10,000 = £22,000. Instead, the applicant must use Category B: under part (1) their combined level of current earnings is £22,000; under part (2) their combined income from employment over the last 12 months is £12,000 + £12,000 = £24,000.
So both part (1) and part (2) of Category B are met.
       

In this example:
The sponsor earns £12,000 and the applicant earns £10,000 so their combined income is £22,000 (which is more than £18,600)

However, as the applicant only started their job 3 months ago they also need to show that in total they earned £18,600 or more between them in the last 12 months. The applicant earned £12,000 total and the sponsor earned £12,000 total, so combined they earned £24,000 (which is more than £18,600).



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