Who this covers: permanent and retained firefighters, paramedics, ambulance officers, patient transport and SES staff.
What lenders do differently
Roster-based pay
Fire and ambulance rosters carry penalties and rostered overtime as a standing part of the pay; most lenders count them at 80 to 100 per cent with a year of history, and the roster pattern on the payslip is the evidence.
Retained and part-time service
Retained firefighter income is variable and usually counted at a shaded two-year average; it is often a second income beside a main job, which most lenders accept.
Secondary employment
Many firefighters and paramedics run a business or trade on days off. Lenders count it once it has a year's history, on returns where it is on an ABN.
Concessions
Essential worker LMI discounts at some lenders, usually 85 to 90 per cent with an income floor; the deposit and LMI calculator shows what that is worth.
Worth knowing before applying
A long-service or injury leave period shows on the year-to-date and needs a letter; secondary business income is read on returns like any self-employed income; and the income annualisation calculator reads a roster payslip the way an assessor does.
The tools that fit
Policies on all of the above differ lender to lender and change without notice; the value of the conversation is knowing which lender's policy reads your payslip best on the day. Understanding how your income is read before you apply is what makes the application calm.