Debt Relief Orders

A Debt Relief Order (DRO) is a form of personal insolvency that gives you legal protection from your creditors, with the qualifying debts written off after 12 months. It’s aimed at people who don’t own their home, have few assets and little spare income.

If you qualify for a DRO

• There is no application fee — a DRO is free to apply for
• Your creditors can’t recover their money without the court’s permission
• You’re usually freed from the qualifying debts after 12 months

How do I get started?

You must apply through an intermediary authorised by the Insolvency Service. They’ll consider your overall financial position and advise whether you qualify. Approved intermediaries include debt advice charities, and their help is free. A DRO can be revoked if your finances improve, if you don’t co-operate with the official receiver, or if your income, assets or debts exceed the limits.

Qualifying criteria

As of September 2026, the main criteria for a DRO in England and Wales are:

• Your debts total less than £50,000
• You usually have less than £75 a month spare income after essential costs
• Your assets are worth less than £2,000
• You don’t own a vehicle worth £4,000 or more
• You’ve lived or worked in England or Wales in the last 3 years
• You haven’t had a DRO in the last 6 years

Every application is subject to full eligibility checks by an approved intermediary. Check the current rules on GOV.UK. Northern Ireland has its own DRO scheme with different limits, and DROs aren’t available in Scotland. My Debt Plan Ltd does not provide DROs.

Content last reviewed: September 2026.

Free, independent debt advice is also available from MoneyHelper, StepChange, National Debtline and Citizens Advice.