Debt Relief Data Study 2026: How Much Debt People Have When They Ask for Help

By Eric Pemper, Founder, CuraDebt. Data as of October 11, 2026.

The typical person who asked CuraDebt for help with debt in 2026 owed $25,000 in unsecured debt such as credit cards and personal loans. That is the median across 12,829 people who contacted us between March 10 and October 11, 2026. The average was higher, $35,366, because a minority carried very large balances.

These are not people who are a little behind. In my experience, most have been making minimum payments for months before they reach out.

Key findings

• Median debt: $25,000. Half of the people owed between $15,000 and $39,531.
• Nearly 1 in 5 owed $50,000 or more (18.5%), and 5% owed more than $100,000.
• Only 7% owed under $10,000. By the time people look for debt relief, balances are usually well past what a budget cut alone can fix.
• People asking about bankruptcy owed more. The 1,265 people who came to us asking about bankruptcy had a median of $30,000, 20% above everyone else.
• Being turned down for a loan is a common first step. Another 8,890 people were referred to us in the same period after a lender declined their loan application, often a consolidation loan.

Nearly 1 in 5 people seeking debt help owed $50,000 or more

Under $10K

7.2%

$10K-$20K

23.8%

$20K-$30K

31.6%

$30K-$50K

19.0%

$50K-$75K

9.9%

$75K-$100K

3.6%

$100K+

5.0%

What the numbers mean if you are in debt

After 25 years in the debt relief industry, the pattern I see most is waiting too long. At $10,000, most people still have room to cut costs, call creditors for a hardship plan or qualify for a lower-rate consolidation loan. At $25,000 or more, with card rates often above 20%, minimum payments can stop making real progress.

1. Add up every balance and rate. Most people we talk to underestimate their total.
2. Call your creditors first. Many card issuers offer hardship programs with lower rates or payments, but only if you ask.
3. Compare your options side by side. Consolidation, credit counseling, debt settlement and bankruptcy each fit a different situation. This guide to debt relief options walks through them.
4. If a loan was declined, don't stop there. A declined consolidation loan often means it is time to look at a debt settlement program or credit counseling instead.
5. Avoid anyone who charges before doing the work. Under the FTC's Telemarketing Sales Rule, debt settlement companies selling by phone cannot charge fees before they settle a debt.

"Most people wait until minimum payments stop working before they ask for help," said Eric Pemper, founder of CuraDebt. "The earlier you compare your options, the more of them you have."

About the data

Figures come from 12,829 unique people who asked CuraDebt for help with unsecured consumer debt from March 10 to October 11, 2026. Debt amounts are what each person reported when they reached out, not verified balances, and often come from a range picked on a form. The study describes people already looking for debt relief, not all US households. Duplicates and test entries were removed, and amounts under $1,000 or over $1 million were excluded. Tax, business and bankruptcy-only inquiries are counted separately, and for people referred after a declined loan only the count is used. No personal information was used or shared.

CuraDebt was founded in 2001 and connects people with debt settlement companies and independent tax relief firms in its network.

Using this data

Journalists, researchers and bloggers are welcome to use these figures with credit to CuraDebt and a link to this page. For questions or an interview, email [email protected].