Single mum applying for step change ?!

[pillowfighter]

I’m soon to be 38, single parent for 10 years and my ds dad has been no show with any money. I work part time and receive a small amount of UC.
I live in a council property. I have defaults but no ccjs on my credit file.
my debt is near £6000 so not a huge amount but it’s sending me into a bad depression.
I want to apply for step change , I don’t understand the ins and outs of it really, but I am sure they wipe your credit score so you cannot apply for any form of credit for 6 years. In which time il be 44. My mother has said she has a property she has offered me and my child to move into when I’m ’debt free’, and will put my name on the mortgage and she will pay half and I will pay half for a few years. I cannot do this until my credit score is good. I cannot afford my debt payments at all so I feel step change is a good move. Can anyone give any advice. Thanks xx

These are all discussions to have with stepchange.
Stepchange are a charity that help people deal with debt problems
You'll have the opportunity to talk through different options for getting control of your debt, and the pros and cons of all those options

Good for you for recognising that you need to get some help and deal with your debt. I know it can feel really stressful

StepChange is a debt advice charity looking at range of debt advice solutions, ranging from payment plans, to insolvency such as bankruptcy, debt relief order or IVAs.

they don’t wipe your credit score themselves, but making reduced payments to debts will impact your credit score and therefore your ability to get credit in the future. Insolvency has a much bigger impact. Any impact on your credit file lasts 6 years from the date it goes on there.

give them a call and they can go through all your options with you :)

Like others have said, StepChange are an advice service so they can talk through your options.

I entered into an IVA at the age of 39. I'll be debt free, which was looking impossible without out. OK so I can't pass a credit check, but my credit was wrecked anyway.

This is a bit tricky. I’m in the same situation as you, single parent for the same amount of time and similar amount of debt.

For the same of 6k I’d try to pay it back. I know someone waiting for their DRO to go through and it was quite a stressful project. Would you be able to work full time and just pay more?

Another thing to look at is probably how the debt happened - in a council house you have no obligations really, but if you were to have your own property then all the maintenance would fall on you. Would you be able to afford to keep the property running?