This latest report provides insight into the demographic and debt information of new clients who first received debt advice in January 2026. It also includes the latest insights on our website traffic trends.
Our key findings from January 2026:
- The number of clients completing full debt advice in January 2026 is 17,998. This is 56% higher than December 2025 (11,525) and 9% higher than January 2025 (16,448). Historically, StepChange sees a significant uptick in demand at the beginning of a new year.
- The number of clients naming a ‘cost of living increase’ as their main reason for debt has increased by two percentage points from December 2025 (16%) to January 2026 (18%). Almost one in ten (9%) clients name ‘need credit to cover living costs’ as their main reason for debt, up two percentage points from January 2025 (7%).
- In January 2026, seven in ten (71%) clients had credit card debt. This is two percentage points higher than December 2025 (69%) and four percentage points higher than January 2025 (67%).
- The proportion of clients with catalogue debt in January 2026 was nearly three in ten (28%), which is three percentage points higher than December 2025 (25%), but in line with January 2025 (also 28%).
- The number of clients in mortgage arrears has fallen, despite a rise in average mortgage arrears amounts in 2025. In January 2026, over one in eight (13%) clients had mortgage arrears. Over one in seven (15%) clients had mortgage arrears in December 2025.
- For the second consecutive month, the proportion of clients in full-time employment has risen by one percentage point. In January 2026, 46% of clients reported being in full-time employment.
Take a look at the full report to find out more.
This is the latest report in our series detailing monthly client data.