Common Financial Tool
The Common Financial Tool (CFT) is used to assess household income and expenditure to set a contribution across all statutory debt solutions. It ensures consistency and transparency when assisting a client to assess one solution against another and allows for a comparison of the repayment under each solution.
It uses benchmark expenditure levels known as ‘trigger figures’ to assess reasonable levels of expenditure. These figures are set using the CFS. To use the CFS and access the trigger figures, you must apply for authorisation.
Notes for Guidance - Common Financial Tool provides detailed information and evidence requirements to support debt solution applications.
1AiB, Notes for Guidance - Common Financial Tool, available at The CFT uses common financial statement trigger figures to assess if a client’s expenditure is reasonable. If the client exceeds the trigger figures, they will have to provide a reasonable explanation, supported with evidence, with any application for a statutory solution.