IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Money and Mental Health welcomes government announcement on ‘Breathing Space’ for people with problem debt

19 June 2019

The Government has today confirmed plans for its Breathing Space debt respite scheme,  which will protect people in problem debt from debt enforcement action, including people experiencing a mental health crisis.

In particular, the new plans confirm that the people experiencing a mental health crisis will be exempted from charges, letters or bailiff action on their debt for as long as they are receiving mental health crisis care. This followed Money and Mental Health’s successful Recovery Space campaign, which secured a commitment from the government last year that people struggling with mental health problems would not be excluded from the scheme.    

Welcoming the announcement today, Helen Undy, Chief Executive of the Money and Mental Health Policy Institute, said:

“This scheme could genuinely save lives. Everyone experiencing a mental health crisis should the opportunity to recover free from escalating debt fees, charges and the threat of bailiffs arriving at their door. We are delighted that the government acted on our call to protect people from being hassled about debts while they’re receiving crisis care, and we look forward to working with ministers to put these plans in place over the coming year.”

ENDS

For more details, and for any other media enquiries, please contact Brian Semple, Head of External Affairs at Money and Mental health, on 07595 439 638 or [email protected]