Can I get a Debt Relief Order?

For people in England or Wales with low income, few assets and debts under £50,000 that they cannot pay.

Applies to: England, Wales Last checked against official sources: 6 October 2026

You may be eligible if you owe under £50,000, have less than £75 a month spare, have under £2,000 in assets, don't own a vehicle worth £4,000 or more, and don't own your home.

You must have lived or worked in England and Wales within the last 3 years, and not applied for a DRO within the last 6 years.
You stop paying the included debts for 12 months, then they're written off.
It's free, but you must apply through an approved debt adviser.
Restrictions apply, like telling lenders if borrowing over £500.
It stays on your credit record for 6 years.

Different in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland

Rules may be different in:

Scotland: Check mygov.scot for Scotland
Northern Ireland: Check nidirect for Northern Ireland

Key facts

Debts under £50,000
12 months then written off
Free via approved adviser

What a Debt Relief Order does

A Debt Relief Order (DRO) is a formal way of dealing with debts you cannot pay. It is run by the Insolvency Service and is meant for people with low income and very few assets.

Once you have a DRO, you stop paying the debts listed in it, including interest, for 12 months. At the end of the 12 months, those debts are written off. You do not go to court.

The eligibility checklist

You must meet all of these:

Test	Limit
Total debts	Less than £50,000
Spare income	Less than £75 a month after normal living costs
Savings and valuables	Less than £2,000 in total
Vehicle	Worth less than £4,000
Where you live	Lived or worked in England or Wales in the last 3 years
Past DRO	None in the last 6 years

You also cannot get one if you are currently bankrupt, or have an individual voluntary arrangement (IVA) or an interim order.

Debts a DRO does not cover

Some debts stay with you. You must keep paying:

rent and household bills
child maintenance
student loans
Social Fund loans
secured debts (such as a mortgage)
court fines
damages for personal injury or death that a court ordered you to pay
unpaid TV licences

How to apply

Find an approved debt adviser. You cannot apply on your own. MoneyHelper lists free advisers you can talk to online, by phone or in person.
The adviser checks you meet the rules and fills in the application with you.
The Insolvency Service decides whether to grant the DRO. There is no court hearing.

There is no application fee. The old £90 fee was scrapped in 2024. If you paid that fee between 2016 and April 2024 but never sent your application, the Insolvency Service says you may be able to claim a refund, and it is urging people to claim before the end of 2026.

Rules during the 12 months

While the DRO is in place you must not:

borrow more than £500 without telling the lender about your DRO
act as a company director
open a bank or building society account without telling them about your DRO

If your regular income goes up, or you get money or valuable items, you must tell the Insolvency Service. It will check whether you still qualify.

After the DRO ends

The debts in the DRO are written off and the restrictions stop. The DRO stays on your credit record for 6 years, which can make borrowing harder.

Need breathing room first?

If you are not sure a DRO is right, a debt adviser can apply for Breathing Space for you. This gives up to 60 days where creditors cannot contact you, add interest and charges, or take enforcement action. You cannot get Breathing Space while you have a DRO.

If you live in Scotland or Northern Ireland

DROs on GOV.UK are for England and Wales. Scotland has its own debt options, such as a Debt Payment Programme through the Debt Arrangement Scheme. Speak to a free debt adviser where you live.

Related guides

Where this comes from

Get it done

This takes you to the official service, which is free to use.

Find an approved adviser

Common questions

Which debts are not covered by a Debt Relief Order?

You still have to pay some debts, such as student loans and court fines.

Can I open a bank account with a Debt Relief Order?

Yes, but you must tell the bank or building society about your DRO. You also cannot act as a company director while it lasts.

Can I get Breathing Space if I have a Debt Relief Order?

No, you cannot apply for Breathing Space while you have a DRO.

Official sources

1.Debt Relief Orderswww.gov.uk/options-for-dealing-with-your-debts/debt-relief-orders
2.Breathing Spacewww.gov.uk/options-for-dealing-with-your-debts/breathing-space

Checked against GOV.UK on 6 October 2026

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