You cannot apply for the Debt Repayment Scheme (DRS) directly. It starts only when a bankruptcy application is made in the High Court and you are referred to the Official Assignee. It suits people in Punggol with a regular income and debts of no more than $150,000. Free and low-cost help comes first.
Debt that has grown out of control is frightening, and many people carry it alone for too long. There are lawful, structured ways through it, and people whose job is to help you use them.
This page is part of eduKate Punggol’s When You Need Help in Punggol, our practical guides for life’s occasions, big and small. It explains the options before bankruptcy, how the DRS works step by step, and what bankruptcy means, so you can decide calmly and with proper advice.
Quick answer
- Try the alternatives first: a private repayment arrangement with creditors, help from a social service agency such as Credit Counselling Singapore (CCS), a Voluntary Arrangement, or legal advice from the Legal Aid Bureau.
- Card and personal-loan debts: CCS’s Debt Management Programme covers unsecured debts of $10,000 or more owed to at least two creditors. Call 6225 5227.
- The DRS: for debtors who are employed with a regular income and owe no more than $150,000. You repay under a plan lasting no more than 5 years.
- Bankruptcy: you can file yourself if you owe at least $15,000 and cannot repay. It involves a $1,850 deposit with the Official Assignee and serious restrictions.
- Legal advice in Punggol: the Legal Aid Bureau runs videoconference advice at ServiceSG Centre One Punggol on Fridays, 10am to 4.30pm (as listed in August 2024; check when you book at go.gov.sg/mlawvc).
- Need help today: for food or bills, call the ComCare Hotline on 1800-222-0000 (7am to midnight daily), or MSF’s consolidated hotline 1800-111-2222 (say “ComCare”). If you feel hopeless, Samaritans of Singapore is on 1767 and the National Mindline on 1771, both 24 hours.
What to Do First
These steps follow the Insolvency Office’s own advice on alternatives to bankruptcy. Start at the top, however far along you are.
- Write down every debt. List each creditor, the amount and whether it is a card, a personal loan, a housing loan or something else. It is the first thing any adviser will ask for.
- Talk to your creditors. The Insolvency Office says debtors may agree a private arrangement to pay off debts in instalments. Give creditors your latest financial position, with documents.
- Get help from a social service agency. CCS is on the Insolvency Office’s list, along with several others shown below.
- Get legal advice before any big decision. If you cannot afford a solicitor, the Insolvency Office points you to the Legal Aid Bureau.
- If a creditor is suing you, ask about Court Dispute Resolution, which the Insolvency Office lists as an option.
- If you receive a statutory demand, act straight away. CCS advises attending its Debt Management Information Talk to avoid bankruptcy.
- If a bankruptcy application is made, the court may refer you to the Official Assignee to see whether the DRS suits you. Follow every instruction and deadline from that point.
Where to Go and Who to Call
Most of these offices are outside Punggol, but the legal advice session at One Punggol saves a trip into town.
| Who | Address and contact | Hours | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Credit Counselling Singapore (outside Punggol) | 51 Cuppage Road, #07-06, Singapore 229469. Tel 6225 5227; Statement of Affairs help 6929 1928; enquiry@ccs.org.sg | Mon–Fri 9am–6pm, except public holidays | Debt Management Programme and the Bankruptcy Support Programme. |
| Insolvency Office (Official Assignee), MinLaw Services Centre (outside Punggol) | 45 Maxwell Road, #07-11 The URA Centre (East Wing), Singapore 069118. Tel 1800 2255 529. | Counter Mon–Fri 8.30am–5pm; phone enquiries Mon–Fri 8.30am–5.30pm; closed weekends and public holidays | DRS and bankruptcy matters. |
| Legal Aid Bureau videoconference at ServiceSG Centre One Punggol | 1 Punggol Drive, #01-01, Singapore 828629. Book at go.gov.sg/mlawvc. | Fridays 10am–4.30pm, by booking (listed August 2024; check live) | Legal advice if you cannot afford a solicitor. |
| AMP (nearest agency on the Insolvency Office list) | 1 Pasir Ris Drive 4, #05-11, Singapore 519457. Tel 6416 3960. | Call first | Social service support with debt. |
The Insolvency Office also lists Adullam Life Counselling (6659 7844), Arise2Care Community Services (6909 0628), Blessed Grace Social Services (8428 6377), One Hope Centre (6547 1011) and Silver Lining Community Services (6749 0400).
Checked October 2026 — confirm on the official page before you go: Insolvency Office: alternatives to bankruptcy, Insolvency Office contact page and Credit Counselling Singapore.
Which Situation Fits You
Your debts are mostly cards and personal loans
CCS’s Debt Management Programme is for unsecured debts, such as credit cards, credit lines and personal loans, of $10,000 or more owed to at least two creditors, which you can repay in full by age 70. It does not cover mortgages. Our free money help guide explains how CCS works.
You have received a statutory demand
This is the moment to act. CCS advises attending its Debt Management Information Talk. If you later receive a Bankruptcy First Notice, CCS’s Bankruptcy Support Programme can help you prepare your Statement of Affairs.
A bankruptcy application has been made
The court may adjourn the application for up to 6 months and refer you to the Official Assignee to assess whether the DRS suits you. You then have 14 days to watch an introductory video and submit your Statement of Affairs, Income and Expenditure Statement and Debt Repayment Plan online. A creditors’ meeting follows, which you must attend, and you are told the outcome within 7 days. Once your first payments are made, the bankruptcy application is treated as withdrawn.
You are thinking of filing for bankruptcy yourself
The Judiciary says you must owe at least $15,000, be unable to repay, and have a connection to Singapore. You place a deposit with the Official Assignee, get written consent from the Official Assignee or a licensed insolvency practitioner, file the forms through eLitigation at the Supreme Court Service Bureau, and attend the hearing. The affidavit has two versions of paragraph 4, depending on whether you believe the DRS applies to you. Please speak to a lawyer first.
You own an HDB flat
The Insolvency Office’s information sheet (September 2023) says an HDB flat with at least one Singapore Citizen owner is protected from creditors, and a bankrupt may keep living there until the trustee advises otherwise. HUDC flats and executive condominiums are not similarly protected.
Debt Repayment Scheme or Bankruptcy: Rules and Costs
| Question | Debt Repayment Scheme | Bankruptcy (your own application) |
|---|---|---|
| Who it suits | Total debts up to $150,000; gainfully employed with a regular income; not bankrupt or on the DRS in the last 5 years; no court-based arrangement in the last 5 years; not a sole proprietor or partner in a firm. | Debts of at least $15,000 you cannot repay, with a connection to Singapore. |
| Main costs | $350 preliminary administration and $250 suitability review at submission; $300 a year for the first 2 years, then $350 a year; 1.5% collection fee and 3% distribution fee. | Filing $60; affidavit $1 a page; Statement of Affairs $5; $1,850 deposit with the Official Assignee; Service Bureau fees extra. |
| How long | A repayment plan of not more than 5 years. | For applications filed from 1 August 2016, a first-time bankrupt is typically eligible for discharge at the 5th or 7th year, after paying the Target Contribution. |
| How it ends | On completion, you are released from all debts admitted under the DRS. | There is no automatic way out. Paying the Target Contribution in full makes you eligible for discharge. |
The $1,850 deposit is not refunded to a bankrupt who filed their own application. If the application is dismissed or withdrawn, the Official Assignee keeps $50 and refunds $1,800. A DRS appeal costs $100 and a change to the repayment plan $50.
Bankruptcy brings real restrictions. You can only leave Singapore with the trustee’s prior permission, applied for at least 14 days ahead. You cannot manage a business or be a company director without permission, you must disclose your status when seeking credit of $1,000 or more, and your property vests in the trustee. You also submit a Statement of Affairs within 21 days and pay a monthly contribution. We could not confirm whether similar restrictions apply on the DRS, so ask the Official Assignee.
On the DRS, you must pay your monthly instalments, make no preferential payments to any creditor, take on no new debts you cannot repay, report changes in your job, contact details or bonuses, and attend meetings. Breaking these may lead to a Certificate of Failure, after which creditors may start new bankruptcy proceedings.
In June 2025, MinLaw consulted on proposed changes to the DRS. They included a new offence for anyone who, in the course of business, solicits people to file bankruptcy applications, new grounds for finding a debtor unsuitable or in failure, and a four-week deadline for creditors to file proofs of debt. We could not confirm whether these proposals have become law, so check MinLaw’s consultation page and the Insolvency Office for the current position.
Neighbour’s Tips
- Do not wait for the court letter. The statutory-demand stage is when CCS’s talks and counselling can do the most.
- Keep one folder for every letter. The DRS has a 14-day submission window, and bankruptcy a 21-day Statement of Affairs deadline. Dates matter.
- Go early to the Insolvency Office. It suggests visiting between 8.30am and 11am to avoid crowds.
- Treat the creditors’ meeting as compulsory. Under the DRS, it is.
- On the DRS, do not pay any creditor on the side. The rules forbid preferential payments to any of your creditors.
- Bring someone you trust to appointments. A second pair of ears helps when the information is heavy.
- If the debts followed a job loss, our job loss and retrenchment guide lists support for jobseekers.
If It’s Urgent or Gets Worse
If you cannot afford food or bills right now, call the ComCare Hotline on 1800-222-0000 (7am to midnight daily), or MSF’s consolidated hotline 1800-111-2222 (say “ComCare”).
If you feel hopeless or unsafe because of debt, please talk to someone now: Samaritans of Singapore on 1767 (24 hours), or the National Mindline on 1771 (24 hours). Call 995 if a life is in danger. If a loan shark is threatening or harassing you, call the Police on 999.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I apply for the Debt Repayment Scheme myself?
No. The Insolvency Office says it is not possible to apply for the DRS. It is only started when a bankruptcy application is made against you in the High Court.
Who qualifies for the DRS?
People whose total debts do not exceed $150,000, who are gainfully employed with a regular income, who have not been bankrupt or on the DRS, or under a court-based arrangement, in the last 5 years, and who are not a sole proprietor or partner in a firm.
What happens if I am found unsuitable for the DRS?
The case goes back to the High Court, and you may be made bankrupt in due course.
How much does it cost to file for bankruptcy myself?
The Judiciary lists a $60 filing fee, $1 a page for the affidavit, $5 for the Statement of Affairs and a $1,850 deposit with the Official Assignee, plus Service Bureau fees.
Will I lose my HDB flat if I am made bankrupt?
According to the Insolvency Office’s 2023 information sheet, an HDB flat with at least one Singapore Citizen owner is protected from creditors. Check the current position with the Insolvency Office.
Is CCS help free?
CCS describes its bankruptcy talks as free. A non-refundable fee of $50 to $250 applies if CCS submits a Debt Management Programme proposal to your creditors.
More Help on eduKate Punggol
- Free money help in Punggol: budgeting and debt advice
- ComCare, Social Service Office and Family Service Centres in Punggol
- Free legal clinics and legal aid in Punggol
- Behind on rent or mortgage payments
- Official: About the Debt Repayment Scheme · DRS information for debtors · Judiciary: filing for bankruptcy yourself · CCS Bankruptcy Support Programme
There Is a Way Through
Debt problems are common, and they are not a measure of who you are. Whether the answer turns out to be a repayment plan, the DRS or a fresh start through bankruptcy, it begins with one conversation with someone qualified to help. Make that call this week.
When life feels steadier and you are ready to think about the children’s learning again, we would be glad to help. And if your family is also looking for calm, small-group English, Mathematics or Science, eduKate Punggol teaches classes of three in Punggol. Come find out more: Book a consultation · Chat on WhatsApp
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Checked October 2026. Addresses, opening hours, fees and rules change, so please confirm with the official source before you go.
