Debt Arrangement Scheme (DAS): Scotland’s statutory debt solution
This scheme is open.
Scotland only.
The Debt Arrangement Scheme (DAS) is Scotland’s statutory scheme for repaying debts over time while getting legal protection from creditors. It is run by the Accountant in Bankruptcy, part of the Scottish Government, and it only applies if you live in Scotland.
“Debt solutions include bankruptcy, the Debt Arrangement Scheme (DAS) and trust deeds. You should always get independent debt advice before you choose a debt solution.”
What DAS is
DAS lets you repay your debts at a rate you can actually afford, through a formal arrangement called a debt payment programme (DPP), while giving you protection from your creditors. It is one of several formal debt solutions in Scotland, alongside bankruptcy and trust deeds.
“The Debt Arrangement Scheme (DAS) lets you pay off your debts at rate you can afford. DAS also gives you protection from creditors. It's run by a part of the Scottish Government called Accountant in Bankruptcy (AiB).”
How a debt payment programme works
Once you have a DPP in place, you make regular payments towards your debts, sometimes over a longer period than your original credit agreements allowed. How long a reasonable programme should run, and how much you pay, depends on your income and what you can afford after essential living costs such as rent or mortgage, food and utility bills.
Money advisers use a standard tool, the Common Financial Tool, to work out your disposable income consistently — every DAS-approved adviser applies the same method, so the affordable payment is not down to one adviser’s personal judgement.
You can apply for a DPP on your own, or jointly with a partner if you both have debts to repay.
The protection a DPP gives you
Once your money adviser or the Accountant in Bankruptcy has formally asked your creditors to agree to the programme, those creditors are prevented from a number of things while it runs.
- asking you directly for money
- taking you to court over the debts in your DPP
- applying to make you bankrupt over those debts
- adding further interest, fees or charges, which stops the debt growing
“may arrange for their debts to be paid under debt payment programmes”
“A DMP is not legally binding, meaning you're not tied in for a minimum period and can cancel it at any time.”
How you apply
- Contact a Scottish Government-funded free debt adviser, or another DAS-approved money adviser. Not every adviser is DAS-approved, so check this when you first get in touch.
- The adviser works through your income, essential costs and debts with you, using the Common Financial Tool to see what you can afford.
- If a DPP looks suitable, the adviser puts together a proposal covering your debts and a repayment plan.
- The adviser or the Accountant in Bankruptcy formally asks your creditors to agree to the programme — this is the point protection from creditors starts.
- If you disagree with a decision made by the Accountant in Bankruptcy, you can ask for it to be reviewed.
England and Wales have a different route
DAS has no direct equivalent south of the border. England and Wales instead have Breathing Space, which pauses creditor action for a fixed period while you get advice, and separate formal solutions such as a Debt Relief Order for people who cannot realistically repay what they owe. None of these schemes operate across the whole of the UK — each nation’s arrangement is a separate legal scheme with its own rules and its own adviser network.
Common questions
Who runs the Debt Arrangement Scheme?
DAS is administered by the Accountant in Bankruptcy, a part of the Scottish Government. Applications go through a DAS-approved money adviser, not directly to the Accountant in Bankruptcy.
Can I apply for DAS myself?
You apply through a DAS-approved money adviser rather than applying directly. Not every debt adviser is approved for DAS, so it is worth checking this when you contact one.
How long does a debt payment programme last?
There is no fixed length. It runs for a reasonable period based on how much you owe and what you can afford, worked out with your money adviser using the Common Financial Tool.
Does DAS stop my creditors contacting me?
Once your creditors have formally agreed to your debt payment programme, they cannot ask you for money directly, take you to court over those debts, or add further interest and charges.
Is DAS available in England, Wales or Northern Ireland?
No. DAS is a Scottish statutory scheme and only applies if you live in Scotland. England and Wales have separate arrangements, including Breathing Space and the Debt Relief Order.
Is a debt management plan the same as DAS?
No. A debt management plan is a private, informal arrangement with a debt management company and does not carry the same legal protection as a DAS debt payment programme.
Related guides
- Breathing Space: temporary protection from your creditors
- Debt Relief Order (DRO): what it is and how to apply
- Scottish Welfare Fund: Crisis Grants and Community Care Grants explained
- Budgeting Loan: the interest-free loan for people on legacy benefits
- Budgeting Advance: the Universal Credit loan you pay back
Information on this page was checked against the official guidance on 25 August 2026.
This is general information, not financial or legal advice. Money Decisions UK is not authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority and does not arrange, recommend or introduce any credit, debt or mortgage product.