Do I need a job or regular income to get an inheritance advance?
Many people assume they won't qualify for an advance help because they are retired, not currently working, or on a reduced income. However, an inheritance advance works very differently from a conventional loan.
Why income doesn't matter for an inheritance advance
Traditional lenders such as banks and personal loan providers assess your ability to repay a loan from your income. They ask for payslips, bank statements, and employment history because their repayment model depends on money coming from you, regularly, over time.
An inheritance advance doesn't work that way. The repayment comes from the estate rather than your income and repayment happens all at once, at settlement of the estate. Because you are not making monthly repayments, your current income is simply irrelevant to the assessment.
What we assess instead is the estate: the value of the assets, the confirmed liabilities, and your entitlement as a named beneficiary. If the estate can support the advance, you can qualify regardless of whether you are working, retired, or even on Centrelink.
What Inherita does assess
To approve an advance, we look at:
- The estate assets. What does the estate hold — property, cash, investments? We apply a conservative valuation to each asset class.
- Outstanding liabilities. What does the estate owe? Debts, taxes, legal fees, and specific bequests are deducted before calculating the distributable value.
- Your confirmed entitlement. What share of the estate are you entitled to, based on the will or intestacy rules?
- The advance amount. We advance up to 50% of your confirmed entitlement, so the advance sits well within the estate's capacity to repay.
We do conduct a credit check but it's not the primary basis for approval. The estate assessment carries most of the weight. Minor credit issues such as late repayments or small defaults may be OK, but bankruptcies or major defaults may disqualify you.
Who typically qualifies?
Inherita's borrowers include a wide range of people in very different financial circumstances. Common profiles include:
- Retirees receiving superannuation or a pension who have no regular employment income
- Part-time or casual workers whose income wouldn't support a conventional loan
- People who have recently lost a job or taken time off work to manage the estate
- Adult children who are full-time carers or parents
- Anyone whose financial situation means conventional lenders would decline them
What you do need
To apply for an Inherita advance, you will need:
- To be a named beneficiary of a confirmed will
- The estate to have a solicitor involved (but not necessarily the executor)
- A copy of the will, death certificate, and probate paperwork
That's it. No payslips. No employment history. No evidence of income.
Frequently asked questions
Will my credit history affect my application?
We do conduct a credit check, but a poor credit history won't automatically disqualify you. The assessment is primarily based on the estate, not your personal financial history. If you have concerns, speak to our team before applying.
Can I apply if I'm on Centrelink?
Yes. Government benefits are not considered part of our assessment and they don't disqualify you. What matters is the estate value and your entitlement, not your personal income source.
What if I have personal debts?
Your personal debts are not assessed as part of the Inherita application. We look at the estate's liabilities, not yours. As long as the estate has sufficient value to support the advance, personal debt doesn't affect eligibility.
We assess your inheritance, not your income. No payslips, no employment history — just your confirmed entitlement from the estate.
Check your eligibility →