Debt charity helped more than 216,000 tackle £2.9bn of debt last year

New figures show more than 216,800 people were helped by free debt advice services National Debtline and Business Debtline in 2025 – a 6% increase on the previous year, as high living cost pressures continued to drive debt issues.

The services – run by charity Money Advice Trust – helped people tackle more than £2.9 billion of debt in total, delivered through phone, webchat and digital support.

Overall, the charity estimates its work in 2025 reached 663,800 people in or at risk of financial difficulty, with hundreds of thousands accessing online content and tools, and 55,000 people benefiting from its campaigning work.

In 2025, more than 168,000 people used National Debtline to access advice and tools to manage their debts, with council tax, credit cards and energy bills among the most common issues.

The service supports people to take practical steps to regain control, including budgeting and negotiating affordable repayment plans. As a result, 80% of those who contacted National Debtline went on to engage with their creditors.
Within just six weeks of receiving advice, over half (57%) of those whose debts had fallen saw them reduced by at least £1,000, with a quarter (24%) cutting more than £5,000. Small businesses continue to face difficult trading conditions in 2025, with rising costs and economic uncertainty pushing many to the brink.

Through Business Debtline, the Trust supported more than 48,000 small business owners and self-employed people to manage both their business and personal finances. On average, those helped owed more than £68,000 each, with debts often spanning both business and personal liabilities.
For many, accessing advice proved critical to survival. Six in ten said the support helped them continue trading, while seven in ten reported feeling more confident about the future of their business after getting advice.

Beyond its frontline services, Money Advice Trust continued to expand its reach in 2025 as more people sought support online.
In total, the charity estimates it reached over 663,800 people, including nearly 392,000 who accessed online advice content and tools. The organisation also became the most-cited provider of debt advice content on AI tools such as ChatGPT, helping more people access accurate guidance.

Christine Farnish CBE, Chair of the Money Advice Trust, said “The need for good debt advice that people can trust has never been greater. As financial pressures continue to affect households and small businesses across the UK, our advisers provide vital support without judgement – helping people regain control of their finances, rebuild confidence, and find a clear path forward. Our services may be free, but they are priceless in terms of the difference they make to people’s lives and to the wider economy.

“Looking ahead, we are determined to build on this impact by reaching more people who need our help. With significant unmet demand for trusted debt advice, we are focused on transforming how we deliver our services so we can support many more people, while continuing to tackle the root causes of problem debt and strengthen financial resilience across the UK.”