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The short answer
Breathing Space is a government scheme in England and Wales that gives up to 60 days' protection from creditors: no enforcement action, no contact about the included debts and no added interest or charges. You cannot apply yourself; a debt adviser applies for you, and you qualify only if you are not in a DRO, IVA or interim order, not an undischarged bankrupt, and have not used it in the last 12 months (unless it was for a mental health crisis).
When letters arrive faster than you can open them, the hardest part is thinking clearly long enough to make a plan. Breathing Space exists for that moment. It is not a way to write debt off, and it has firm entry rules, but for many people it is the pause that makes a repayment plan possible.
What Breathing Space does
GOV.UK describes two kinds. A standard breathing space gives temporary protection for up to 60 days. A mental health crisis breathing space lasts for the length of your crisis treatment, plus another 30 days. During either:
- enforcement action cannot be taken against you
- creditors cannot contact you about debts included in your Breathing Space
- creditors cannot add interest or charges to those debts
One point catches people out: GOV.UK says you will still need to make your debt repayments. The scheme freezes the growth of the debt and the pressure, not your obligation to pay what you can.
Who qualifies
The tests on GOV.UK are about your current debt situation, not your nationality or visa.
| You cannot get Breathing Space if you | Notes |
|---|---|
| Have a debt relief order (DRO) | A DRO already gives its own protection |
| Have an individual voluntary arrangement (IVA) or an interim order | These are formal insolvency routes |
| Are an undischarged bankrupt when you apply | Bankruptcy has its own rules |
| Are already in a Breathing Space | One at a time |
| Used one in the last 12 months | Unless it was a mental health crisis breathing space |
The scheme covers people who live in England or Wales. GOV.UK points Scottish readers elsewhere; Ofgem's help page notes Scotland has a separate debt moratorium.
How you get it
You cannot apply on your own. A debt adviser looks at your situation and submits the application if it is the right thing to do. GOV.UK says applying is free, though some advisers charge a fee, so use a free one. GOV.UK points to MoneyHelper to find free advisers online, by phone or in person; National Debtline (0808 808 4000) and StepChange (0800 138 1111) also give free advice, as listed by Advicenow. If someone is receiving mental health crisis treatment and cannot speak to an adviser, someone else can do so on their behalf. For the full list of free routes, see free debt advice in the UK.
Before the call
- List every debt: who it is owed to, the amount and any reference number.
- Gather recent bank statements and your payslips or income records.
- Write down your essential monthly costs: rent, council tax, energy, food, travel, money you send home.
- Note any court papers, including a county court judgment, and their dates.
A worked example of what it changes
Example: Adaeze owes £2,400 on a credit card charging interest and late fees, and £600 in council tax arrears. Collectors are calling daily. Her adviser applies for a standard Breathing Space covering both. For up to 60 days the card provider cannot add interest or charges to the £2,400 and the council cannot take enforcement action on the arrears. She keeps paying what her budget allows, say £150 a month to the card, so the balance falls from £2,400 to £2,100 over two months instead of rising. In that time the adviser works out the longer-term option.
Common misunderstandings
- "It wipes my debt"
- No. It pauses enforcement, contact and added interest or charges. The debt is still there at the end, and GOV.UK says repayments continue.
- "I can sign up online myself"
- No. Only a debt adviser can submit the application, and only if it is right for you.
- "I can use it every few months"
- Not a standard one. You cannot have used one in the last 12 months, unless the earlier one was for a mental health crisis.
- "It costs money"
- Applying is free. Some advisers charge, so pick a free service.
- "It works anywhere in the UK"
- GOV.UK frames it for people who live in England or Wales. Scotland has its own debt moratorium.
What to sort out during the 60 days
The pause is short, so use it. Most advisers will want to settle three things before it ends: a realistic monthly budget, an order of priority (rent, council tax and energy usually come before credit cards because the consequences of missing them are more serious), and a longer-term plan for the rest. That plan might be an informal arrangement with each creditor or a formal option; your adviser will explain which fit your income and what each one does to your credit file.
If a creditor contacts you about a debt covered by the Breathing Space, keep a note of who, when and what was said, and tell your adviser. Debts that were not included can still be chased, so make sure your adviser has the full list at the start. If a collector visits, the rules in your rights with debt collectors still apply.
Where Pryme fits
A Breathing Space works best alongside a budget you can stick to. Every Pryme Personal Account can set up a Personal Assistant to track bills and set reminders; it prepares, and nothing moves without your approval. If you support family in Nigeria, a clear view of what you send each month helps your adviser build a realistic plan. Outside Nigeria, Pryme works through regulated partners.
Questions people ask
How long does Breathing Space last?
Up to 60 days for a standard breathing space. A mental health crisis breathing space lasts for your treatment plus 30 days.
Can I apply for Breathing Space myself?
No. A debt adviser applies for you. GOV.UK says applying is free, though some advisers charge, so use a free one.
Do I still pay my debts in Breathing Space?
Yes. GOV.UK says you still need to make your repayments; creditors simply cannot add interest or charges or take enforcement action.
Can I get Breathing Space on a work or student visa?
The GOV.UK eligibility rules are about insolvency status and previous use, not visa type. A free adviser will confirm.
Sources
- GOV.UK: Options for paying off your debts, Breathing Space (updated Nov 2024) · accessed Oct 2026
- Advicenow: How to get debt advice (2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- Ofgem: Get help if you can't afford your energy bills · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.