If your circumstances change while you are in an IVA you should contact your supervisor.

There are a number of things that can happen. If the problem is only short term a payment break can be arranged - a couple of months payments can be added to the end of the arrangement.

If the situation is more serious the supervisor might decide to look at a variation which is another meeting of creditors to vary the terms of the IVA - reducing the payments for example.

Obviously if you are unable to pay anything at all into the arrangement for a considerable time the IVA could fail and you will be back at square one. If you are unable to pay anything towards your debts and the situation is unlikely to change a good advisor would check if bankruptcy is a better option.

The most important thing to do when considering an IVA is to get free and impartial advice based on your own circumstances. remember - its's very difficult if not impossible to change your IVA supervisor once you are in the IVA so you need to be happy with them.

If you have IVA questions, we're happy to answer them at Debt Advice Foundation.