Breathing Space: 60 days' protection from creditors
Breathing Space can pause interest, charges and enforcement for 60 days while you get debt advice. How it works in England and Wales.
What it is
Breathing Space (the Debt Respite Scheme) gives you 60 days' protection while you get advice. During that time most interest, fees and charges are frozen, and creditors can't take enforcement action or contact you to ask for payment.
How to get it
You can't apply on your own. A debt adviser applies for you, after checking it's right for you. Free advisers such as StepChange and National Debtline can do this.
Mental health crisis Breathing Space
If you're getting mental health crisis treatment, a different Breathing Space can last as long as your treatment, plus 30 days. An approved mental health professional must confirm your treatment.
Keep paying what you can
You should still keep up with ongoing bills such as rent, council tax and energy during Breathing Space. Use the time to work out a longer-term plan with your adviser.
Go step by step with Debt Confident
The app turns this into a plan: what to do first, what to say, and what to write. Free to download.
More guides
- Priority debts: which bills to pay first
- Debt Relief Orders (DROs): who can get one
- Bailiffs (enforcement agents): your rights
- Debt letters: what they mean and what to do
- Bankruptcy: the basics
- How to make a budget that actually works
- Free debt advice: where to get it
General information for England and Wales, not regulated debt advice. Figures checked 21 September 2026. For advice about your situation, contact a free debt adviser.