--- title: "Breathing Space — 60-Day Debt Pause Explained | CrisisCompass | CrisisCompass" source_url: "https://crisiscompass.co.uk/breathing-space-debt-scheme" retrieved_by: "AnswerRail Edge Engine v1.1.0-parity-v20 (https://answerrail.com)" level_of_detail: "standard" token_payload_reduction: "92.8%" raw_html_bytes: 110827 compiled_body_bytes: 7939 entities_extracted: 6 currency_recall_static_html: "100%" monitored_currency_tokens: 22 faq_answer_recall_static_html: "100%" monitored_faq_answers: 2 link_recall_static_html: "100%" monitored_content_links: 13 omitted_dynamic_states: ["non_default_tab_panels", "volume_slider_tiers"] conversion_notes: "Origin renders alternate tabs and volume pricing sliders via client-side JavaScript; serving default static AST state." rfc_compliance: "RFC 9110" last_verified_at: "2026-10-25T08:51:28.815Z" cache_age_seconds: 0 origin_cache_control: "public, max-age=0, must-revalidate" --- > **Canonical Source:** [https://crisiscompass.co.uk/breathing-space-debt-scheme](https://crisiscompass.co.uk/breathing-space-debt-scheme) > > *Breathing Space gives you 60 days where creditors cannot contact you or add interest. How to access it and who qualifies.* ### Organization: CrisisCompass | Field | Value | | :--- | :--- | | **Organization** | CrisisCompass | | **Official Website** | https://crisiscompass.co.uk | | **Overview** | Independent UK crisis management, financial support guidance, and emergency contingency portal. | ### Entity: CrisisCompass | Property | Detail | | :--- | :--- | | **Type** | WebSite | | **Name** | CrisisCompass | ### Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) **Q: Is CrisisCompass free?** > A: Yes. All core tools — Survival Check, Benefits Finder, Hardship Letter Generator, Budget Calculator, Debt Priority Checker, and AI Chat — are completely free. Optional premium PDF documents start from £2.99. **Q: Is CrisisCompass financial advice?** > A: No. CrisisCompass provides general information and tools. For personalised financial advice, we recommend contacting StepChange (0800 138 1111) or Citizens Advice (0800 144 8848). **Q: Is my data safe?** > A: We store data locally in your browser wherever possible. The Financial Survival Check results are never saved to our servers. See our Privacy Policy for full details. ### Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) **Q: Can creditors still contact me during Breathing Space?** > A: During Breathing Space, most creditors cannot contact you about debt collection. However, they can send you statements and notifications about your account balance. **Q: Does Breathing Space affect my credit file?** > A: Breathing Space itself does not appear on your credit file. However, any missed payments before Breathing Space started will still be recorded. # Breathing Space — Pause Debt Collection for 60 Days Breathing Space (officially the Debt Respite Scheme) gives you a 60-day period where most creditors must stop all enforcement action, freeze interest and charges, and stop contacting you. It gives you time to get debt advice and work out a plan. 2 min readLast reviewed: March 2026 [Start Your Financial Check →](/check)[Generate Hardship Letters →](/tools/letters)[Find Benefits Support →](/benefits) ## How It Works During a Standard Breathing Space: - Creditors **cannot contact you** about the debt - **Interest and charges are frozen** - **Enforcement action is paused** (including bailiffs) - **County Court Judgement (CCJ)** proceedings are paused - Lasts **60 days** ## Who Can Access It You can get Breathing Space if: - You are an individual (not a business) - You have **problem debt** (debt you can't pay) - You are **receiving debt advice** from an approved provider - You haven't had Breathing Space in the **previous 12 months** ## How to Get Breathing Space You cannot apply directly. A **debt advice provider** must apply on your behalf: - StepChange (0800 138 1111) - Citizens Advice - National Debtline ## Mental Health Crisis Breathing Space If you're receiving mental health crisis treatment, you can get a **Mental Health Crisis Breathing Space** which: - Lasts for the **duration of your treatment plus 30 days** - Can be applied for by your mental health professional - No 12-month restriction on reapplication ## What Debts Are Included? Most debts including: credit cards, personal loans, overdrafts, utility arrears, council tax, rent arrears. Not included: student loans, court fines, child maintenance. 🏢 UK Limited Company Director Triage • Finance Act 2009 s.108 & ERA 1996 s.166PAYE • VAT • Corporation Tax • Bounce Back Loans ## Running a Limited Company with HMRC Arrears or Business Debt? Calculate your monthly **HMRC Time-to-Pay (TTP)** instalment and check if you qualify for a tax-free **Company Director Statutory Redundancy & Notice Payout** from the government's National Insurance Fund (Employment Rights Act 1996 s.166) if your company ceases trading. HMRC / Company Debt£28,000 £3,000£30k Express Line£150,000+ Years as PAYE Director6 years 0 yrs2 yr Statutory Min20 yrs Weekly Gross PAYE Salary£520/wk £180/wk£700 Statutory Cap Option A: Keep Trading via HMRC Time-to-Pay ~£2,422 / month over 12 months ✓ Under £30,000 threshold: Eligible for HMRC Express Self-Serve / Direct Debit Time-to-Pay arrangement without full security. Option B: Estimated Director Redundancy Claim (Gov RPS) £6,552 Tax-Free Estimate Includes ~£3,900 statutory redundancy + ~£2,652 statutory notice pay from the National Insurance Fund (Form RP1/RP2). Often covers 100% of liquidation costs. 📄 Download B2B HMRC Time-to-Pay Proposal, Cashflow Table & s.172 Board Minute (£29 Instant Pack)🏪 Commercial Rent (CRAR) & Trade Creditor Pack (£19) Need free confidential charity guidance for a sole trader or SME? Call **Business Debtline** free on [0800 197 6026](tel:08001976026) (uk\_b2b\_corporate\_insolvency self-serve governance triage). 🏠 Ofgem ECO4 & £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) • 2026 Funding Open12 Verified UK MCS-Accredited Installers ### Cut Monthly Energy Bills by £650–£1,100/yr: Check £7,500 Heating & ECO4 Grant Eligibility If anyone in your household receives **Universal Credit, Pension Credit, PIP, Attendance Allowance, Carer's Allowance, or Council Tax Reduction** (or your household income is under £31,000 under ECO4 Flex), you may qualify for 100% funded insulation, solar, or the **£7,500 Government Boiler Upgrade Grant** with zero repayment required. ✓ £7,500 BUS Voucher✓ ECO4 Flex Low-Income Route✓ Direct MCS-Certified Assessment Check My Postcode for £7,500 / ECO4 Grants →Takes 45 seconds • No impact on credit score - **[Check Unclaimed Council Credit Balances & Band Reductions (CouncilCredit.co.uk)](https://councilcredit.co.uk?utm_source=crisiscompass&utm_medium=sovereign_hub)** — SI 1992/613 Reg 14 • Household & CommercialSearch Ledger →UK councils hold over £310m in unrefunded credit balances from closed accounts, overpayments, and backdated Band A–H revaluations. Check if your council owes you a BACS refund. - **[Reclaim Backdated Small Business Rates Relief (RatesReclaim.co.uk)](https://ratesreclaim.co.uk?utm_source=crisiscompass&utm_medium=sovereign_hub)** — LGFA 1988 s.43(4B) • UK Shopfronts, Workshops & OfficesCheck Relief →Sole-property UK businesses with a Rateable Value ≤ £12,000 qualify for 100% Small Business Rate Relief. Audit your property or refer a local business for a £75–£150 partner referral reward. ## Frequently Asked Questions Can creditors still contact me during Breathing Space? During Breathing Space, most creditors cannot contact you about debt collection. However, they can send you statements and notifications about your account balance. Does Breathing Space affect my credit file? Breathing Space itself does not appear on your credit file. However, any missed payments before Breathing Space started will still be recorded. ## Related Guides - **[Dealing with Debt Collectors — Know Your Rights](/dealing-with-debt-collectors)** — Understanding your rights when dealing with debt collectors in the UK. What they can and cannot do, and how to respond effectively. - **[Debt and Mental Health](/debt-and-mental-health)** — Guide to managing debt when you're struggling with mental health. Extra protections available, how to get help, and looking after yourself. ## Sources & Further Reading [GOV.UK — Debt Management](https://www.gov.uk/options-for-paying-off-your-debts)[FCA Handbook — CONC](https://www.handbook.fca.org.uk/handbook/CONC.pdf)[National Debtline](https://www.nationaldebtline.org/) ### Get a free recovery plan by email We'll send you a personalised action plan with next steps, plus practical tips over the following week. Subscribe This page provides general information only and is not financial or legal advice. For personalised guidance, consider contacting [StepChange](https://www.stepchange.org/) (0800 138 1111) or [Citizens Advice](https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/) (0800 144 8848). --- ## AI Ingestion & Edge Optimization Provenance (AnswerRail Verified) - **Edge Delivery & Markdown Compilation:** [AnswerRail.com](https://answerrail.com) — Layer-7 AI Crawler Content Negotiation, `/llms.txt` & Byte-0 Schema Compiler - **Dedicated AI Markdown Subdomain:** https://ai.crisiscompass.co.uk/ - **Cryptographic Ingestion Certificate:** https://answerrail.com/verify/crisiscompass.co.uk - **Live Crawler & Referral Telemetry:** https://answerrail.com/stats/crisiscompass.co.uk