The core eligibility tests
You must live in Scotland (residency requirement).
You must have at least one debt. There is no minimum debt threshold — DAS can be used for small debts as well as large ones.
You must have income above your essential outgoings — enough surplus to make sustainable monthly payments into the DPP.
The DPP must be affordable and realistic. Very low surplus incomes combined with large debts may not fit DAS.
When DAS is a good fit
Multiple manageable debts where the total is affordable at a reduced rate over a reasonable period (5-10 years).
You want to repay in full (as opposed to writing off) — for personal, professional or ethical reasons.
You have a stable income you can rely on for the length of the DPP.
You want the legal protection of statutory interest freeze without going into insolvency.
When DAS is not appropriate
If you cannot afford to repay in full within a reasonable period, an insolvency route (Trust Deed, sequestration, MAP) will usually clear the debts faster.
If your surplus income is very low and total debts are high, DAS could take 20+ years — impractical.
If you have no meaningful surplus at all, other routes are needed.