DRO Income Goes Up: Do You Lose Your Debt Relief Order?

By Hamid Ali, Founder of DebtShift · Updated October 14, 2026 · United Kingdom

Three months into a DRO you pick up extra shifts, and now you are doing sums at midnight to work out whether you just threw away your fresh start.

What to know first: Probably not, but you must tell the Official Receiver. A DRO can be stopped if you have more than £75 left over each month after household expenses, or if you fail to report a change. Debt Camel says revocation is rare, and small rises are unlikely to cause it unless you were already near the limit.

Based on Shelter, Citizens Advice and Debt Camel. This covers England and Wales. The Citizens Advice page was last reviewed in January 2020, so check the current rules with your adviser.

See all my UK debt options

The number that matters

A Debt Relief Order (DRO) lasts twelve months from the day the Official Receiver makes it. That period is called the moratorium (Citizens Advice). The test at the start was no more than £75 a month spare after household costs. Citizens Advice says the same figure can be used to stop the order if your position changes (Citizens Advice).

What to do if your income rises

Tell the Official Receiver. Shelter says you must notify them of an income increase during the moratorium (Shelter).
Speak to the adviser who set up your DRO first if you are unsure. Debt Camel says they can help with a fresh income and expenditure assessment (Debt Camel).
Work out what you actually keep. Tax, pension and student loan deductions can rise with a pay rise, and costs may have gone up too.
Check your benefits. Universal Credit may fall as pay rises, see Universal Credit and debt.
Keep your payslips and any new bills in one place, and use the DRO and bankruptcy checker if you are unsure whether you still fit.

Check my DRO eligibility

What can go wrong

The order can be revoked, which means cancelled. Debt Camel says the Official Receiver has discretion and that revocation is rare, with about 200 out of more than 45,000 DROs in 2024 to 2025, including cases not linked to income (Debt Camel). Citizens Advice adds that a late-stage rise may lead to an extension, and that a debt relief restrictions order is possible (Citizens Advice).

Not telling anyone is the riskier route. Citizens Advice lists failing to report a change as a reason for a DRO to be stopped (Citizens Advice).

Build my payoff plan

Before you panic, read these

Do I have to tell anyone if my income goes up during a DRO?

Yes. Shelter says you must notify the Official Receiver if your income increases during the moratorium period (Shelter). Debt Camel says the same, and adds that routine April benefit increases do not need reporting (Debt Camel).

Will a pay rise cancel my DRO?

Not automatically. Citizens Advice says a DRO can be stopped if you have more than £75 left each month after household expenses, and that not reporting a change is also a reason (Citizens Advice). Debt Camel says the Official Receiver has discretion and small rises rarely cause revocation unless you were near the limit (Debt Camel).

How long is the moratorium?

Twelve months from the date the Official Receiver makes the DRO (Citizens Advice).

What if the rise comes near the end?

Citizens Advice says that if the increase comes towards the end, the DRO may be extended so you can reach an arrangement with creditors (Citizens Advice). Debt Camel’s article does not say whether an extension is possible, so ask your adviser.

Could they also take action beyond cancelling it?

Citizens Advice says the Official Receiver may apply for a debt relief restrictions order, instead of or as well as revoking the DRO (Citizens Advice).

I did one month of overtime. Is that the same?

Debt Camel says occasional extra income, such as one month of overtime, is more likely to be treated as a one-off (Debt Camel). It is still sensible to talk to your adviser, especially if you are unsure whether to report it. Gig workers should read DRO and irregular income.

My Universal Credit changed too. Does that matter?

Debt Camel notes benefits like Universal Credit may fall when income rises, so you may not be much better off, and a new assessment may be needed (Debt Camel). See Universal Credit and debt.

Disclaimer: DebtShift is an educational platform operated by H Ali Logistics Ltd, which is not authorised or regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). This article is general education, not financial or legal advice. For free, impartial debt advice, contact StepChange on 0800 138 1111.

Sources

Last reviewed October 2026