Holyrood urged to act: majority of Scots hit by problem debt
More than half of Scots have experienced problem debt, new research suggests, underlining the scale of financial pressure facing households in Scotland.
New Censuswide polling commissioned by debt charity StepChange Scotland reveals 57 per cent of adults in the country have lived experience of problem debt, with almost two in five saying they did not share their struggles with anyone.
Almost nine in ten (88 per cent) of those affected said problem debt has caused them significant stress. Some 56 per cent said their debt problems were caused by circumstances outwith their control.
These experiences are increasingly reflected in the demand for debt advice services north of the Border. StepChange Scotland said it has seen its client volumes increase by 32 per cent in the first quarter of this year, compared with Q1 2025.
The charity has also seen a rise in people seeking debt advice who are in full-time employment – indicating that work is increasingly not protecting people against financial difficulties.Some 43 per cent of StepChange Scotland clients were in full-time work in the first quarter of 2026, up five percentage points year-on-year.
StepChange is urging the Scottish Parliament to seize this moment to take decisive action to support people facing financial hardship. The charity is calling for measures to tackle the rising cost of essential bills and utilities, alongside steps to help households build financial resilience so they are better equipped to cope with financial shocks.
Sharon Bell, head of StepChange Scotland, says: “With a new Parliament in Scotland, and concerns around the cost of living intensifying, now is a vital time for government to take action on financial pressures facing households.
“We’ve long called for reform of the outdated Council Tax collection system, which lacks the empathy needed for residents facing difficult circumstances, causing undue hardship.
“We’d also like to see action from policymakers on unaffordable energy debt and ongoing bills, which looks to become even more unsustainable as the price cap is expected to increase this summer.
“Building financial resilience to protect households from debt must be at the heart of Holyrood’s ambitions.”
StepChange is the UK’s largest debt advice charity, helping hundreds of thousands of people a year, with StepChange Scotland based in Glasgow.
Free, confidential debt advice is available 24/7, using StepChange’s online debt advice service which can be found at www.stepchange.org
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