Stewart owes his bank about £1000. He borrowed this money when he was working and could afford the repayments. Now he is on benefit he can’t afford them and the bank have threatened to take him to Court. He is also worried about paying back his mum as she's bailed him out before and he owes her £500. As she's on a pension, she really needs the money. He owes some arrears to the City Council from when he was working and therefore wasn't getting housing benefit. He owes them about £300 but has been in to see them and they have accepted £2.75 a week since he's on benefits. He also owes a mobile phones company £100.

Stewart went to the Citizens Advice Bureau for help and they helped him to identify the priority debts and the non-priority debts. They also helped him by contacting the companies he owed money to. Although it was a struggle, by doing this he was able to get his debts and his budget under control, although there is still the danger that the bank may take him to Court in the future.