How do I apply for Breathing Space?

You cannot apply directly — you apply through a free, FCA-authorised debt adviser, such as StepChange, National Debtline or Citizens Advice. You speak to them about your debts, and if Breathing Space is right for you they submit the application on your behalf. It is free to get, and you can find a free debt adviser through MoneyHelper. You must be receiving debt advice to qualify.

Does Breathing Space stop bailiffs and freeze interest?

Yes. During a standard Breathing Space, creditors cannot add interest, fees or charges to the debts in the scheme, cannot take or continue most enforcement action (including bailiffs/enforcement agents and most court action), and cannot contact you to demand payment. You do, however, have to keep paying your ongoing liabilities — like your rent, current council tax and energy bills — during the Breathing Space.

How often can I get Breathing Space?

You can normally only get a standard Breathing Space once in any 12-month period. Mental Health Crisis Breathing Space can be used more than once if needed, as it is linked to receiving crisis treatment rather than a fixed annual limit. Breathing Space is meant to be a first step toward a longer-term debt solution, so use the 60 days to work with your adviser on a plan such as a debt management plan, a Debt Relief Order or an IVA.

Breathing Space: 60 days of legal protection from your debts (2026)

Q: What is Breathing Space?

Breathing Space — officially the Debt Respite Scheme — is a free legal protection in England and Wales that gives you a 60-day pause from most of your creditors. During it, interest, fees and charges on the debts are frozen, most enforcement action (including bailiffs and court action) is paused, and creditors must stop contacting you to ask for payment. It is not debt write-off — you still owe the money — but it gives you space to get debt advice and find a longer-term solution without the pressure mounting.

Q: What is Mental Health Crisis Breathing Space?

It is a stronger version for someone who is receiving mental health crisis treatment. Instead of a fixed 60 days, it lasts for as long as the crisis treatment, plus another 30 days afterwards — however long that is. It is requested through a debt adviser, usually with input from an Approved Mental Health Professional or a healthcare professional involved in the person's care, and a nominated point of contact (such as a carer) can deal with it on the person's behalf.

What Breathing Space does — and doesn’t

For a 60-day period, the law protects you from the creditors named in your Breathing Space. During it:

Interest, fees and charges are frozen on those debts — they stop growing.
Most enforcement is paused — including bailiffs / enforcement agents and most court action.
Creditors must stop contacting you to ask for payment.

It is not debt write-off

You still owe the money, and you must keep paying your ongoing bills during the Breathing Space — your rent or mortgage, current council tax, and energy and water. Breathing Space pauses the old debts so you can deal with them; it does not cancel them, and it is not a way to avoid paying.

Why it matters

When you are in crisis, frozen interest and silenced demand letters can be the difference between panic and a plan. The 60 days exist for one reason: to give you space to get advice and choose the right long-term solution without the debt growing or the bailiffs arriving.

The two kinds

Type	Who it’s for	How long
Standard Breathing Space	Anyone in problem debt getting debt advice	60 days (usually once per 12 months)
Mental Health Crisis Breathing Space	Someone receiving mental health crisis treatment	As long as the crisis treatment + 30 days

The Mental Health Crisis version has stronger protections and no fixed 60-day limit — it lasts for the whole of the crisis treatment plus another 30 days afterwards. It can be requested through a debt adviser, usually with help from an Approved Mental Health Professional or a healthcare professional involved in the person’s care, and a nominated person (such as a carer) can deal with it on their behalf.

If you’re struggling to cope

Debt and mental health are deeply linked, and you are not alone. If you are in crisis, please reach out — the Samaritans are free, 24/7, on 116 123. A healthcare professional involved in your care, or a debt adviser, can help you access Mental Health Crisis Breathing Space.

How to get it — through a free adviser

You cannot apply for Breathing Space yourself. It is started by a free, FCA-authorised debt adviser once you are getting debt advice. The good news: that advice is free, and the same conversation that gets you Breathing Space also gets you a plan to clear the debt.

Contact a free debt adviser — StepChange (0800 138 1111), National Debtline (0808 808 4000) or Citizens Advice.
They review your situation and, if Breathing Space is right for you, register it on your behalf.
It is completely free — never pay a company that offers to “get you Breathing Space” for a fee.

Never pay for free help

Some firms charge for debt help that charities provide for free, and a few are outright scams. StepChange, National Debtline and Citizens Advice are free and trusted — always start there. If anyone asks you to pay a fee for Breathing Space, walk away and check it.

What happens after the 60 days

Breathing Space is a first step, not a solution. The pause exists so you and your adviser can put a longer-term plan in place. Depending on your situation, that might be:

An affordable repayment / debt management plan — see free debt help.
A Debt Relief Order if your debts and assets are low — see the DRO guide.
An Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA) or other formal option, with advice.
Sorting priority debts first (rent, council tax, energy) — see which debt to pay first.

Do this now

If letters and calls are piling up, make one free call today — StepChange 0800 138 1111 or National Debtline 0808 808 4000. Ask about Breathing Space and a plan in the same conversation.

Before you call, jot down who you owe and roughly how much. And remember: while you wait, you do not have to deal with bailiffs alone — know your rights at the door.

In Scotland

Breathing Space is for England and Wales. Scotland has its own Statutory Moratorium under the Debt Arrangement Scheme, which gives a longer protection period — speak to a free adviser or Citizens Advice Scotland.

Related guides — keep going

Free debt help Debt Relief Order Which debt to pay first Bailiffs & your rights Behind on council tax

Source verification Primary source: GOV.UK — Options for dealing with your debts: Breathing Space; StepChange and National Debtline Breathing Space guides · gov.uk/options-for-dealing-with-your-debts/breathing-space. Last verified 14 June 2026 (60-day pause, freeze, apply-via-adviser and the mental-health-crisis version web-checked against GOV.UK). Confidence: High — the Debt Respite Scheme has run since 4 May 2021 under stable regulations: 60-day standard moratorium, interest/fees/enforcement/contact frozen, applied for via an FCA-authorised debt adviser, and the Mental Health Crisis version lasting treatment + 30 days. Key facts: Standard 60 days, usually once per 12 months · Mental Health Crisis = treatment + 30 days · free · apply through a debt adviser (not directly) · interest/fees/charges frozen, enforcement & bailiffs paused, creditor contact stopped · NOT debt write-off — keep paying ongoing liabilities · England & Wales (Scotland = DAS Statutory Moratorium). Scope: England & Wales. Scotland has a separate scheme. Not financial advice — get free help from StepChange, National Debtline or Citizens Advice.

Breathing Space — common questions

What is Breathing Space?

A free legal protection in England and Wales giving you 60 days where interest, fees and charges on your debts are frozen, enforcement (including bailiffs) is paused, and creditors must stop contacting you. It is not debt write-off — it gives you space to get advice and a plan.

How do I apply?

You can’t apply directly — a free, FCA-authorised debt adviser (StepChange, National Debtline or Citizens Advice) registers it for you once you’re getting debt advice. It’s free; never pay a firm for it.

Does it stop bailiffs and freeze interest?

Yes — during a standard Breathing Space, creditors can’t add interest, fees or charges, can’t take most enforcement action (including bailiffs), and can’t contact you for payment. You must keep paying ongoing bills like rent, current council tax and energy.

What is Mental Health Crisis Breathing Space?

A stronger version for someone receiving mental health crisis treatment. It lasts as long as the treatment plus 30 days, is requested through a debt adviser (often with an Approved Mental Health Professional), and a nominated person can handle it for them.

How often can I use it?

Usually once every 12 months for the standard version. It’s a first step — use the 60 days to set up a longer-term solution like a debt management plan, a Debt Relief Order or an IVA.

Sources: The Debt Respite Scheme (Breathing Space) — protections, duration and how to apply · GOV.UK — Breathing Space. Free debt advice and the Mental Health Crisis version · StepChange, National Debtline and Citizens Advice. SortedUK is not a regulated adviser and this is general information — get free, personal debt advice before acting. Last reviewed: 14 June 2026.

Drowning in debt? You can press pause.

What Breathing Space does — and doesn’t

The two kinds

How to get it — through a free adviser

What happens after the 60 days

Breathing Space — common questions

One free call stops the interest and the letters.