The rules around eligibility for a Debt Relief Order (DRO) changed in June 2021 and again in April 2024, which means that you may now be eligible when you might not have been before.
What is a DRO?
A DRO is a type of insolvency that allows you to write off your debt after 12 months if your financial situation hasn’t changed within that time.
DROs were first introduced back in April 2009 with the intention to provide an alternative route to bankruptcy for people with low levels of debt and disposable income.
Fast forward to 2015 when the eligibility criteria was updated to increase the maximum limit on asset values and debt owed, which led to more than 35,000 people becoming eligible for a DRO under this change.
However, since then there have been growing calls for a further review of eligibility requirements in light of stagnant wages, growing inflation, and ever-rising living costs. This, coupled with the unprecedented levels of financial difficulty and uncertainty for many during the coronavirus pandemic, has led the government to acknowledge that a change is needed.
The Money and Pensions Service predict that around 3 million more people will need debt help by the end of 2021.
Following consultations across the industry in early 2021, the government have now laid out the biggest expansion in DRO eligibility requirements since its inception over 12 years ago.
So, what’s changed?
From the 29th June 2021, you’ll be able to apply for a DRO if you:
- Have debts totalling less than £30k (increased from £20k)
- Have less than £75 a month in disposable income for debt repayments (increased from £50)
- Have assets worth less than £2k (increased from £1k)
- Have a car worth less than £2k (increased from £1k)
Further changes to Debt Relief Orders (DROs) were announced in the 2024 Spring Budget to offer more help to people in debt. Changes include:
- Abolishing the £90 administration fee to obtain a DRO from April 6 2024
- From June 2024, the value of the car a person who wants to obtain a DRO went go up to £4,000
- Total amount of debt which can be covered by a DRO increased £50,000 (including in Northern Ireland)
It’s worth noting that these new eligibility changes will only take place in England and Wales – they will remain the same in Northern Ireland.
Are you eligible?
If these new changes mean that you are now eligible for a DRO and you’d like to know more information, get in touch with our team of expert Advisors at MoneyPlus Advice, who can tell you more about the benefits and risks of a DRO, and other solutions you may be eligible for.
A DRO with MoneyPlus is only available to residents of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. For residents of Scotland, a Minimal Asset Process is a similar solution, but with different risks and benefits.
