Breathing Space Eligibility Checker
Check whether you qualify for Standard 60-day Breathing Space or Mental Health Breathing Space under the Debt Respite Scheme (Breathing Space) (England and Wales) Regulations 2020.
Eligibility / route checker โ indicative result
This tool gives an indicative direction based on the information you provide. It is not a determination of your legal position. Many factors (evidence, jurisdiction, deadlines) can change the outcome. Always confirm with a regulated adviser before relying on this result.
Privacy: runs entirely in your browser. Nothing you enter is sent to us or saved.
When to use this tool
Use if you are struggling with debt and want to understand whether you can access Breathing Space protections, which pause most creditor enforcement action and interest while you seek debt advice. Standard Breathing Space lasts 60 days; Mental Health Breathing Space lasts for the duration of treatment plus 30 days and has no fixed end date while treatment continues.
Breathing Space Eligibility Checker
Are you currently in problem debt?
Problem debt means you have debts you are struggling to repay, or your debts are causing you significant financial difficulty or stress.
Legal basis
- Debt Respite Scheme (Breathing Space) (England and Wales) Regulations 2020 (SI 2020/1311) โ creates both types of Breathing Space.
- Mental Health Breathing Space โ available to individuals receiving mental health crisis treatment, with protections lasting the duration of treatment plus 30 days.
- Applies in England and Wales only. Scotland has its own Debt Arrangement Scheme.
Next steps
Read the full guide
- Dealing with Debt (County Court Judgments)What happens when a creditor takes you to court for debt, and your options for dealing with a CCJ.
- Understanding Your Debt Management OptionsA guide to the main options for managing unaffordable personal debt โ from informal arrangements to formal insolvency.