Debt Relief Order (DRO)
A Debt Relief Order can deal with qualifying debts for people who meet specific income, asset, debt and residency conditions in England and Wales.
A Debt Relief Order is a formal insolvency solution for some people who cannot pay their debts and have limited assets and spare income. It is available in England and Wales under specific eligibility rules.
Current headline criteria
GOV.UK currently says a person is generally eligible where they owe less than £50,000, have less than £75 a month in spare income, have assets worth less than £2,000, do not own a vehicle worth £4,000 or more, meet the England and Wales residence or work test, and have not had a DRO within the previous six years.
Other criteria and exclusions also apply. An approved debt adviser checks eligibility and submits the application. You cannot apply directly on your own.
GOV.UK states that there is no application fee for a DRO.
What happens during a DRO
A DRO normally lasts 12 months. During that period, payments on debts included in the DRO stop, subject to the rules of the order. If the DRO completes, qualifying debts included in it are normally written off.
Important consequences
A DRO is entered on the Individual Insolvency Register and normally stays on a credit record for six years from approval. Restrictions apply during the DRO.
Use an approved debt adviser for an actual DRO eligibility assessment.
Primary sources
- GOV.UK: Debt Relief OrdersPrimary or public authority source, checked 2 November 2026.
- GOV.UK: Options for dealing with your debtsPrimary or public authority source, checked 2 November 2026.
- MoneyHelper: Debt Advice LocatorPrimary or public authority source, checked 2 November 2026.