Many People Call the National Debt Helpline for Help

By Sophie Holder

Topic: Financial Services

Sat 1 Aug 2026 at 7:29am

Anyone can have debt problems.

In short:

The National Debt Helpline got a record number of calls in 2025-26, with over 183,000 people seeking help.

About 40% of those people had jobs, and many more needed help when the Iran war started.

What's next?

The helpline's financial counsellors offer free help to people with debt.

A record number of people are seeking help from the National Debt Helpline, and having a job is no longer a guarantee of financial security.

Financial counsellor Peter Gantley said people can have debt problems no matter how much they earn or what job they have.

Some people who got help from him included a single parent with unpaid bills, a former business owner with tax debts, and a healthcare worker with mortgage problems.

Peter Gantley said financial problems can happen to anyone, no matter their situation or income.

Financial counsellors help people overcome their financial difficulties.

Peter Gantley helps people with debt and money problems.

Financial counsellors are free to talk to and can help anyone.

If you have a big bill to pay and no money, here's what you can do.

They can help people make plans, get grants, and talk to creditors.

Financial counsellors cannot charge fees or get paid by other people for their services.

Mr Gantley said there are many reasons why people need help.

He said people might have problems with utility debts, credit card debts, or home loans.

Peter Gantley said there are many reasons why people seek help with their finances.

People come to him because they are struggling with financial pressure.

'Unprecedented' demand

Over 183,000 people called the National Debt Helpline in 2025-26, which is a free service.

Vicki Staff, the helpline's coordinator, said this was a 9% increase from the year before.

She said the helpline has seen a lot of demand in the last six months.

The helpline's online chat service has seen a 50% increase in demand.

The phones have seen a 10-15% increase in calls each month.

Vicki Staff said the National Debt Helpline has seen a lot of demand, especially in the last six months.

Ms Staff said she was surprised that many people who called the helpline had jobs.

About 40% of the people who called the helpline had full-time or part-time jobs.

Ms Staff said there was a spike in calls when the Iran war started.

She said this was because of the increase in petrol and diesel prices.

People were struggling to make ends meet and didn't have any extra money.

When petrol and diesel prices went up, it affected the cost of everyday things like groceries, and many people needed help.

Both Ms Staff and Mr Gantley said that people who are struggling with debt should not be afraid to ask for help.

Ms Staff said everyone has noticed that it's more expensive to live now.

Help is available, and it's free and confidential.

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