UK Debtors Granted 60 Day Payment Extensions

Debtors in the UK are to benefit from a new scheme where they will be provided 60 days grace from debt collectors and Bailiffs.

In an article that appeared in The Sun, people who are struggling with significant debt to local government bodies, such as tax arrears, personal tax debts and benefit overpayments, will have their debts frozen with all enforcement action also stopped. The scheme, which is due to be launched in 2021, is designed to provide the financially disadvantaged with time to find long-term solutions to their financial problems. During the "breathing space" period, which is what the scheme is being called, those debtors must work with professional financial counsellors to reach solutions to get back on track with their repayments.

The "breathing space" program also includes a "statutory debt repayment plan" which allows those in debt to repay debt over a more manageable period and could see monthly repayments adjust according to their disposable income.

Debt charity, StepChange, revealed in April of this year that 657,000 people had sought their assistance in 2018 and applauded the moves by HM Treasury.