Almost half (48% or 153 councils) of local authorities in England and Wales increased their use of bailiffs to collect council tax debt in 2025/26, according to new Freedom of Information research by National Debtline as part of our latest Stop the Knock campaign. Our research also revealed a reduction in protections for some of…
Tag: debt
Two in five British adults expect their finances to worsen over the next year with energy bills driving concerns
New research from StepChange Debt Charity has revealed growing concern about household finances, with millions of people worried about how they will cope as energy costs are expected to rise ahead of winter. These statistics come as Ofgem is expected to announce a rise in the energy price cap from October, before households have felt…
The cost of living crisis is no longer a one-off event. It’s a monthly reality for millions. We need to turn the tide on energy, housing and debt, before it’s too late.
https://wearecitizensadvice.org.uk/its-time-to-turn-the-tide-8a6c1ac2a82f Crisis has become the new normal. Millions of households face a relentless financial squeeze that feels like it never stops. At Citizens Advice, our advisers do all they can to help people find a way forward. But prices keep rising faster than incomes, pushing household debt levels ever higher. Half the people who come to…
Get help if you’re struggling to pay your bills
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/debt-and-money/budgeting1/get-help-with-bills/ There are things you can do if you’re struggling to pay your bills – for example your energy bills, rent and council tax. If you owe money and you’re struggling to pay You should speak to the organisations you owe money to – they might let you pay smaller amounts or take a break…
Understanding the savings, debt and financial resilience of low-to-middle income families
https://www.resolutionfoundation.org/publications/money-on-my-mind/ Key findingsBritish households are carrying far lower levels of consumer debt than in the past. Among the poorer half of families, average debt has fallen from £2,617 in 2006-08 to £2,256 in 2020-22 – a 14 per cent real-terms drop. Higher-income households have seen an even larger fall of 21 per cent over the…
Hunger in the UK 2025
https://www.trussell.org.uk/news-and-research/publications/report/hunger-in-the-uk-2025 This research sets out compelling evidence that despite falling inflation, there has been no progress on hunger in the UK. There are concerning signs that the levels of hardship people are facing are deepening, and severe hardship is becoming entrenched in communities across the UK. Three separate reports sit alongside this publication exploring Hunger…
Exploring the psychological harm of national government debt collection.
https://www.moneyandmentalhealth.org/publications/nothing-personal/ This report examines how central government departments collect debt. In particular it focuses on how the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) recoups benefits overpayments – showing its approach to be more sudden and harsh than that of consumer creditors. The research shows that 1.1 million people across the UK owe the DWP money…
Deeper in Debt: Citizens Advice debt data update
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/policy/publications/deeper-in-debt-citizens-advice-debt-data-update/ Debt levels are rising sharply, and cases are becoming more complex and harder to resolve. The road to debt recovery is long, and impossible for many. These insights highlight the challenges facing people with debt and the need for government action.
Understanding the psychological harm of utilities debt collection and disconnection
https://www.moneyandmentalhealth.org/publications/connection-lost/ More than half of those in some form of utilities arrears have a mental health problem (52%). More concerningly, people with severe and enduring mental illnesses (SMI) such as bipolar or schizophrenia are over four times as likely to be in some form of utility debt as those without a mental health problem. Being…
The risk of harm to energy consumers over the coming winter is mounting
The new Government has inherited a challenging situation, but it is clear that more support is urgently needed. The most efficient way to provide this is to reform the Warm Home Discount, to ensure it reaches more households and provides support that is based on their energy needs. https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/policy/publications/fixing-the-foundations-the-need-for-better-targeted-support-for-energy/