When money is tight, it can be hard to know which bills to pay first. Priority bills are the ones that should come before everything else — because the consequences of missing them are the most serious.
According to StepChange, around 51% of people in the UK have experienced problem debt, meaning they’ve struggled to keep up with bills and repayments. Understanding which bills take priority can help you make clearer decisions under pressure.
Priority bills are debts where the creditor (provider) has strong legal powers if you don't pay.
The most common ones include:
Although still important to pay on-time, some non-priority bills include:
Even though these bills are classed as non-priority bills, you still need to pay them. If you leave them unpaid, your creditor could take action that turns them into priority bills.
These bills carry more weight because missing them can lead to consequences like losing your home, having your energy cut off, or facing court action.
For example:
Non-priority debts — like credit cards, personal loans, or overdrafts — still matter, but the immediate consequences are usually less severe. Your credit report may be affected, and court action is possible over time, but you're less likely to lose your home or essential services right away.
If you miss priority bills, the consequences can include:
If you miss non-priority bills, the consequences are usually less immediate, but still real:
Acting early gives you more options. The longer a debt sits unpaid, the harder it becomes to deal with.
If you know you are struggling (or going to struggle) to make a payment, it’s always best to acknowledge the situation as early as possible.
Contact them before you miss a payment if you can. Many energy suppliers and lenders have hardship schemes or can agree a payment plan. It's worth asking, because not all of them advertise what's available.
If you live in England or Wales, the Breathing Space scheme (officially the Debt Respite Scheme) gives you up to 60 days of legal protection (depending on your situation) from most creditor action while you get debt advice.
During that time, creditors can't contact you, add interest, or take enforcement action. To access the scheme, you can apply through a free debt advice organisation.
In Scotland, the Debt Arrangement Scheme (DAS) offers similar protections.
Free, confidential help is available. These organisations are there to assist you and won't judge your situation:
Reaching out sooner rather than later means you'll have more choices about how to move forward.
Disclaimer: We make every effort to ensure content is correct when published. Information on this website doesn't constitute financial advice, and we aren't responsible for the content of any external sites.
Zubin is a personal finance writer with an extensive background in the finance sector, working across management and operational roles. He applies his experience in customer communication to his writing, with the aim of simplifying content to help people better understand their finances.
