charity has warned that many households do not yet have a clear route out of debt problems triggered by the coronavirus pandemic.
With temporary support available, many people adopted a "wait and hope" strategy to financial difficulties last year, according to StepChange Debt Charity.
It said the impact of coronavirus was the fifth most common reason for debt in 2020. Emergency support measures such as loan payment holidays and the furlough scheme have provided a cushion for households against the financial impacts of the health crisis.
But StepChange, which released the findings in its 2020 statistics yearbook, warned that significant pent-up demand for debt advice will be unleashed as the temporary support unwinds.