Benefits
To check what benefits you might be entitled to quickly and easily, you can use the Turn2us Benefits Calculator
Grants
Debts
Most charitable funds do not settle debts. The small number that do, in certain circumstances, will generally only consider priority debts - such as mortgages, rent, energy bills, court costs and tax.
Debt solutions: Debt Relief Orders (DROs) or Bankruptcy Fees
If you are looking for help with the cost of Debt Relief Orders (DROs) or bankruptcy fees, help may be available to you from some charitable funds, if you meet the qualifying rules (eligibility criteria) for their help.
Where a charitable fund might give help towards the cost of DROs or bankruptcy fees, they will only consider this if you have received debt advice from a recognised debt advice agency (see Advice and Support below) and have considered all the options available to you.
Debt advice services from charitable funds
Some charitable funds listed on our Grants Search also provide debt advice services.
Use our Grants Search
To find out what help may be available from charitable funds, you can use the Turn2us Grants Search
Our Grants Search does not tag charitable fund schemes by 'debt', 'rent arrears', "Debt Relief Orders", "DROs", "Bankruptcy" or "Bankruptcy fees".
To find charitable funds that may be able to help you, you need to search on all aspects of your circumstances that may be relevant – e.g. occupation (remember to think about the industries you have worked in as well as the jobs you have had), health conditions, nationality – using the filters of the Grants Search.
Once you have a list of charitable funds based on your search, check the profiles for information on who they help and what they help with.
Some charities give grants according to individual need. If the profile doesn’t specifically state that the charity doesn’t give grants for bankruptcy fees, it may be worth contacting any charities that match your circumstances and background to ask if they can help.
Breathing Space (Debt Relief Scheme)
England and Wales
Breathing Space, officially called the Debt Respite Scheme, is a government scheme which could help relieve some of the pressure and stress caused by being in debt.
The Breathing Space scheme is available in England and Wales from 4 May 2021.
Scotland
Scotland has a scheme called the Debt Arrangement Scheme which has different benefits and rules.
Northern Ireland
We are checking what schemes are available in Northern Ireland. For general debt advice, see the Advice and Support section below.
Advice and Support
If you are worried about debt, it is important that you seek advice from a debt advice charity or service. Some sources of debt advice and/or information are listed below.
You may also find it helpful to read the Guest blog Money Advice Trust have written about their debt guide (May 2019).
UK
Tax debt advice for people on low incomes
Economic Abuse
Tools and/or information
England and Wales
Advice
Information
Northern Ireland
Scotland
Advice
Information
Turn2us Find an Adviser tool
You can also use the Find an Adviser tool to find local advisers who will be able to look at your specific circumstances and provide advice.
Updated: April 2021