Breathing Space
Breathing Space can provide temporary protection from creditor action while an eligible person in England or Wales receives debt advice and makes a plan.
Breathing Space, formally the Debt Respite Scheme, can provide temporary protection from creditor action for eligible people in England and Wales while they obtain debt advice and make a plan.
Standard Breathing Space
GOV.UK says standard Breathing Space can provide protection for up to 60 days. During the protection period, enforcement action cannot be taken on included debts, creditors cannot contact you about those included debts, and interest and charges cannot be added to them.
You still need to make your debt repayments where due. Breathing Space is not itself a debt write-off solution.
How to apply
You need to speak to a debt adviser. The adviser makes the application if the scheme is appropriate.
Mental health crisis Breathing Space
A different protection period can apply where a person is receiving qualifying mental health crisis treatment. GOV.UK states that this lasts for the period of treatment plus 30 days.
Primary sources
- GOV.UK: Breathing SpacePrimary or public authority source, checked 2 November 2026.
- MoneyHelper: Debt Advice LocatorPrimary or public authority source, checked 2 November 2026.