What Documents Do I Need for Debt Review?

Gathering paperwork is the part of debt review people most often stall on. It helps to know that almost everything asked for exists to answer one question: what can you genuinely afford each month? A debt counsellor has to make a determination about whether you are over-indebted, and that determination has to rest on real figures rather than estimates.

The exact list can vary between debt counsellors and depending on your circumstances. Confirm the specific requirements with the consultant handling your application — but the categories below are what you should expect to be asked for.

Proof of identity

A copy of your South African ID (smart card or green barcoded book). If you're married in community of property, your spouse's details normally matter too, because the joint estate affects the assessment.

Proof of income

If you're employed, recent payslips — usually the last three months. If your income varies (commission, overtime, seasonal work), a longer period gives a fairer picture of what you actually earn on average rather than in a good month.

If you're self-employed, you won't have payslips, and that's expected. Instead you'd typically provide business bank statements, recent financial statements or management accounts, and any drawings records showing what you actually take out of the business. If you're paid in cash, say so early — it changes what evidence is realistic, and it's better dealt with upfront than discovered later.

Bank statements

Usually the last three months for every account you use. These matter more than most people expect: they show what actually leaves your account, including debit orders you may have forgotten and expenses you'd underestimate from memory. A budget built on guesses tends to collapse in month two.

Details of every credit agreement

For each debt: who the credit provider is, the account number, the outstanding balance, and the current monthly instalment. Recent statements or letters are ideal. Your credit report is useful here too — you're entitled to one free copy every twelve months, and it will surface accounts you may have lost track of.

Proof of residence and living expenses

A recent utility bill or lease. You'll also be asked to set out monthly living costs — rent or bond, transport, groceries, school fees, insurance, municipal charges. Be realistic rather than optimistic: understating your expenses produces a repayment plan you cannot actually keep.

“What if I'm missing something?”

Start the conversation anyway. Missing one document rarely stops an application outright; it usually just needs to be replaced with an equivalent, or followed up. Waiting months to apply because one payslip is missing is the more costly choice — the assessment can often begin while you retrieve the rest.

A note on what documents do not do

Submitting documents doesn't mean you qualify. The paperwork enables an assessment; the assessment determines whether you are over-indebted, and under the National Credit Act a court ultimately grants the restructuring. Anyone promising an outcome before seeing your numbers is not describing the real process.