About the UK Debt Relief Order Eligibility Checker
A debt relief order (DRO) is a low-cost insolvency solution in England and Wales for people with modest debts, little spare income and few assets. While it lasts — 12 months — creditors listed in it cannot chase you, and at the end the included debts are written off. This UK debt relief order checker tests your figures against each of the official eligibility limits and shows which, if any, you fail.
According to GOV.UK you can usually get a DRO if you owe less than £50,000, have less than £75 a month spare income, have less than £2,000 of assets, do not own a vehicle worth £4,000 or more, have lived or worked in England and Wales within the last 3 years, and have not applied for a DRO in the last 6 years. There is no application fee. These limits have applied since 28 June 2024 and were checked against GOV.UK in October 2026.
Enter your total qualifying debts, monthly income and essential spending, the value of what you own and your car. Applications are made through an approved debt adviser (an intermediary), who will check your figures in detail — including which expenses are reasonable — so treat this as a first screening rather than a decision.
How to use the uk debt relief order eligibility checker
- 1Add up all the debts you want to include and enter the total.
- 2Enter your monthly household income after tax and your essential monthly spending.
- 3Enter the value of your savings and anything you could sell, then your vehicle’s value.
- 4Answer the residence, previous DRO and current insolvency questions.
- 5Read the pass/fail result for each limit, then speak to an approved debt adviser to apply.
Formula and method
The checker compares each figure with the DRO limits published on GOV.UK: total debts under £50,000, spare monthly income under £75, assets under £2,000 and a vehicle worth under £4,000. Spare income is your monthly household income after tax minus essential living costs, floored at zero.
It also applies the non-financial conditions — having lived or worked in England or Wales within the last 3 years, not having applied for a DRO in the last 6 years, and not already being in another insolvency procedure. You are shown as likely eligible only if every condition passes. An approved intermediary makes the final assessment.
- Debt
- Total qualifying debts to be included in the DRO
- Spare
- Monthly income left after essential spending
- Assets
- Value of savings and saleable items, excluding one vehicle
- Vehicle
- Market value of your vehicle
Worked examples
£18,000 of debts and £50 spare a month
Debts of £18,000 are under £50,000, spare income is £1,650 − £1,600 = £50 (under £75), assets are £600 and the car is worth £2,500. Every condition passes, so a DRO looks possible and the £18,000 would be written off after 12 months.
Too much spare income
With £120 a month left after essentials, spare income is above the £75 limit, so a DRO is not available on these figures. A debt management plan or IVA might suit someone with this surplus.
Car worth £5,000 and savings of £2,500
Both the asset limit (£2,000) and the vehicle limit (£4,000) are breached, so two conditions fail. Using savings to pay priority bills or selling the car can change the picture — get advice first.
Frequently asked questions
What are the DRO limits?+
GOV.UK says you can usually get a DRO if you owe less than £50,000, have less than £75 a month spare income, have less than £2,000 of assets, and do not own a vehicle worth £4,000 or more, among other conditions.
How much does a debt relief order cost?+
Nothing. The application fee was abolished in April 2024, and GOV.UK confirms you do not need to pay for a DRO. You apply through an approved intermediary such as a free debt advice charity.
How long does a debt relief order last?+
A DRO lasts 12 months. During that time listed creditors cannot take action to recover the debts, and at the end you no longer have to pay them, provided your circumstances have not improved significantly.
Which debts cannot go into a DRO?+
Some debts must still be paid, such as court fines, child maintenance, most student loans and debts from fraud. Secured debts like a mortgage are not included either. Your adviser will tell you which of your debts qualify.
Can I get a DRO in Scotland or Northern Ireland?+
DROs are for England and Wales. Northern Ireland has its own debt relief order scheme with separate rules, and Scotland uses different solutions such as the Minimal Asset Process bankruptcy.
Results are general estimates and not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction — consult a qualified attorney.