The monthly round-up of news, guidance, legislation, and case law from Shelter's Specialist Debt Advice Service.
News and legal updates
This month's legal round up includes updated resources for advisers and newly published vulnerability standards for enforcement firms and agents.
CPAG Debt Advice Handbook 16th edition published
The 16th edition of the CPAG Debt Advice Handbook has now been published. The handbook is free to access online thanks to the continued support from the Money and Pensions service. Advisers need to create an account to log in.
It is a comprehensive guide for debt advisers, offering regularly updated information on debt solutions, welfare benefits, and legal procedures. It is designed to provide advisers with the tools and knowledge needed to deliver high-quality, practical debt advice to individuals and families across England and Wales.
The handbook covers:
dealing with creditors: guidance on negotiating with creditors and handling creditor communications
debt solutions: a detailed overview of options such as Debt Management Plans, IVAs and bankruptcy
welfare benefits: information on how benefits impact debt repayments and how to help clients maximise income
court procedures: advice on court actions, including repossessions, enforcement orders, and eviction prevention
Debt Advice Handbook 16th edition
Standard Financial Statement Spending Guidelines
The Standard Financial Statement (SFS) Spending Guidelines for 2026/27 are now available and take effect on 6 April 2026. Advisers should continue to use the 2025/26 Spending Guidelines until this date.
SFS Spending Guidelines 2026/27
New Vulnerability Standards published
The Enforcement Conduct Board (ECB) has published its Vulnerability Standards designed for enforcement firms and agents. The ECB believes the new standards will set a higher bar for identifying and responding to vulnerability.
The Vulnerability Standards take effect in January 2027. The ECB requires firms to produce implementation plans by June 2026 to show how they will prepare.
Deductions from Universal Credit for child maintenance
In April 2025, the maximum overall deduction rate from Universal Credit was reduced to 15% of the standard allowance. At the same time, deductions for child maintenance were temporarily moved from seventh place in the priority order to the top of the list.
This change ensured that child maintenance payments continued without interruption, despite the reduced overall deduction rate.
This change has now been made permanent.
Case law
Find debt case law summaries by topic on Shelter Legal.
Siniakovich v Hassan-Soudey and others
A claim is ‘brought’ on the date the claim form is delivered to the court, even if the wrong court fee is paid.
Read the summary of Siniakovich v Hassan-Soudey and others on Shelter Legal.
Spotlight
This month's article from Shelter.
Deductions from universal credit
Shelter's guide explains how deductions are applied to a Universal Credit award after entitlement has been calculated. It outlines the main types of deductions including earnings, debt repayments and sanctions.
Read about deductions from universal credit on Shelter Legal.