New research commissioned by the Consumer Council NI and carried out by Advice NI in collaboration with Queen’s University Belfast has highlighted that Northern Ireland’s personal debt burden is increasing, largely as people continue to delay seeking debt advice.
The report, entitled From Delay to Action: Research on Debt Advice, Shame and Effective Messaging, was launched this week at an event hosted by the Money and Pensions Service.
The report shows that in 2025/26, Advice NI managed £42.8 million of debt – a 10 percent increase on the previous year. The average debt per client has also risen by 8 percent to £12,145.
68 percent of Advice NI clients waited more than 12 months before seeking debt support – and more than…