N55 Form for Attachment of Earnings – What You Need to Know

If you have received an N55 form for Attachment of Earnings, it means a person you owe money to is trying to take it directly from your pay.

Don’t worry; you’re at the right place to learn all about it. Every month, more than 170,000 people turn to our website seeking advice on money problems.

In this article, we’ll explain:

•  What the N55 form is and why you might have received one
•  How to reply to an N55 form using the N56 form
•  The way to stop an Attachment of Earnings Order
•  If this order can change your credit score
•  How to get help if you’re finding it hard to pay your debts

We understand that dealing with money can be hard sometimes; some of us have been in your place before. We’re here to help you understand what’s going on with your pay.

What is an N55 form?

The N55 form is a Notice of Application for Attachment of Earnings. It is used to notify the debtor that the claimant has chosen to apply for an Attachment of Earnings Order to recover the money owed. 

The N55 form will include the Attachment of Earnings application number. This application number will need to be quoted in future correspondence regarding the matter, so you should keep the N55 form in a safe place. 

What is an N56 form? (Replying to form N55)

The notice that your creditor is applying to use an Attachment for Earnings (form N55) will include form N56, also called the statement of means form. 

The information you supply in form N56 will help the court decide if an Attachment of Earnings should be granted and the details of such an order. 

You have to complete this form and send it back to the court within eight calendar days. You also need to supply the court with your most recent payslip with form N56. 

Can you ignore form N55?

You should not ignore form N55 and must respond with form N56 statement of means within eight calendar days – not working days. 

If you don’t return this form within the time limit, you can be summoned to court and even prosecuted for failure to comply with the process.

Lots of people receive this form and start panicking, as this forum post shows:

But you can get support to deal with the form by spelling to Citizens Advice or a UK debt charity. 

» TAKE ACTION NOW: Fill out the short debt form

Can you stop an Attachment of Earnings Order?

Yes, it’s possible to suspend an Attachment of Earnings Order. 

On form N56, there is a box you can tick to request the Attachment of Earnings Order to be suspended. You will need to give a reason why you want the Attachment of Earnings suspended. 

If the Attachment of Earnings is suspended:

1. no money will be taken from your wages, and 
2. your employer won’t be told about the suspended Attachment of Earnings.

However, the Attachment of Earnings will only be suspended if you keep up with regular payments towards the debt. If you miss a payment the Attachment of Earnings won’t be suspended any longer and your employer will be instructed to take money from your wages.