Debt relief orders in England and Wales
Debt relief orders in England and Wales stood at 3,880 people in Aug 2026, according to GOV.UK official statistics. It is one of the indicators in the Company insolvencies table (Value · Monthly), with a complete series running from Apr 2009 to Aug 2026. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.
This indicator in the Company insolvencies table
| Indicator | 08-2026 | 07-2026 | 06-2026 | 05-2026 | 04-2026 | 03-2026 | 02-2026 | 01-2026 | 12-2025 | 11-2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total individual insolvencies (E&W) | 11,644 | 11,873 | 11,862 | 11,331 | 11,029 | 12,125 | 11,756 | 10,984 | 13,308 | 9,572 | |
| Debt relief orders | 3,880 | 3,826 | 3,855 | 4,134 | 3,999 | 4,402 | 4,243 | 3,854 | 4,192 | 3,861 | |
| Bankruptcies | 725 | 693 | 698 | 683 | 762 | 699 | 822 | 842 | 629 | 505 |
Understanding debt relief orders in England and Wales
Measuring statutory debt relief for individuals with minimal assets and low income in the United Kingdom, this series records debt relief orders granted in England and Wales. The metric captures a low-cost administrative alternative to bankruptcy for qualifying debtors, excluding formal court bankruptcies and voluntary arrangements. It targets individuals who cannot afford traditional bankruptcy fees and possess negligible realisable property.
Interpreting this series requires close attention to eligibility criteria adjustments, such as debt ceilings or asset limits, which directly alter the volume of qualifying applicants. Monthly figures can be affected by processing capacities within intermediary advisory networks, making twelve-month comparisons more reliable than month-on-month assessments. Revisions reflect final administrative approvals processed after initial cut-off dates.
Frequently asked questions
- Who qualifies for the relief order tracked here?
- Individuals with low income, minimal assets, and low total unsecured debt.
- How does this procedure differ from standard bankruptcy?
- It is an administrative order handled via official receivers rather than a court-led bankruptcy.
- Can changes in qualifying limits distort historical data?
- Yes, raising debt or asset thresholds expands eligibility and increases the recorded volume.