DMP - variable income

Fiona_CW

I started a DMP with Step Change back in August. I have 2 jobs. One is an 18 hour contract paid monthly, the other is a zero hours contract but I usually get 15-20 hours a week paid 4 weekly.


My DMP payment is based on my average income however on months where I work less hours I struggle to afford my DMP payment. I have already had one month where I had to ask if I could pay less than my usual amount and I suspect will have to do the same this month as my work was closed over Christmas and New Year.


Could I ask Step Change to change my payment to be based on my minimum income rather than my average and then over pay on months where I earn more?

Willing2Learn

Yes you can. It is a perfectly reasonable request. Since the months when you get reduced income means you cannot pay the agreed DMP amount, it makes perfect sense to reduce the agreed amount to match your minimum guaranteed income. That is called sound money management!

David2Prit

Yeah I would ask for the payment to be made on guaranteed income of the 18hrs PW contract. Explain you can make over payments etc, but you will call to do this.

Fiona_CW

If I based payment on my 18 hour job I wouldn't be able to make any payments, but I can go through my last years payslips for my other job and base it on the lowest month.

sourcrates

Fiona_CW wrote: »

If I based payment on my 18 hour job I wouldn't be able to make any payments, but I can go through my last years payslips for my other job and base it on the lowest month.

Is a DMP the best option for you ?

Would you qualify for a debt relief order ?

How much is your debt ?

Fiona_CW

I don't know if I qualify for a DRO. I earn about £18k between my 2 jobs. My debt is about £8k. I'm in Scotland

Willing2Learn

I **think** the DRO equivalent for Scotland is a MAP

TubbyDown

I would suggest looking at all options before committing to one, i thought with a DMP they would take an average of your yearly income?