Step 1 Know what you’ve really got 1 If the changes to your income are regular and expected (so you know when and how much you will get paid), work out your average monthly income over the last 12 months. Work out your average monthly income over 12 months Step 1: add up all the income you have received over the last 12 months. Step 2: divide the total from Step 1 by 12. This is your average monthly income. If you are on a zero-hours contract or your take-home pay changes a lot (so you don’t know when or how much you will get paid), you usually need to work out your average monthly income more often. Dealing with income that changes can be complicated. If you want extra help, contact us for advice. Page 19