No missing pay periods
The check dates should follow your normal pay cycle. A gap can make the reviewer ask for more documents.
Common for rentals
Apartment applications often request two or three recent pay stubs to confirm monthly income before approval.
Useful for lenders
Auto, personal, and mortgage lenders use recent stubs to review gross pay, deductions, and year-to-date totals.
Examples by Pay Schedule
The exact dates depend on how often you are paid. The simple rule is that the stubs should line up in order without skipping a normal pay date.
| Pay cycle | What reviewers expect | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly | Two or three pay stubs from back-to-back weeks with no missing check date. | June 5, June 12, and June 19. |
| Biweekly | Pay stubs from back-to-back two-week periods. | May 29, June 12, and June 26. |
| Semi-monthly | The two regular checks from the same month or the last check of one month plus the next check. | June 15 and June 30. |
| Monthly | Recent monthly pay statements in order. | April 30, May 31, and June 30. |
What Should Be on Each Pay Stub?
Employee and employer name
Check date and pay period dates
Gross pay, net pay, and pay rate
Federal, state, Social Security, and Medicare deductions
Year-to-date earnings and year-to-date deductions