food stamps and state medical

[brokeNconfused]

i have recently filed and confirmed. Things are very tight and we decided to look into medical for our kids to compensate for any costs our current medical coverage wont cover. We also put in for food stamps. given my current income we may actually qualify for them in our state. if i do will i have to advise the trustee of these? Just medical? just foodstamps or both?

I did qualify at the time of filing for a 7 , but opted for a 13 due to unsettled contract at work ( not knowing what my income would go to) Once this comes through i dont think i would still qualify for the assistance and it would be dropped. I only have to report an increased yearly income of 10% or more on my monthly income at this time and my contract wont be higher than a 4% for last year and 5% more for 2009.

[woeisme]

will the food stamps and medical contribute to over than 10% of your income? If not, I don't think you'd need to report them for the same reason you don't have to report yearly increases of less than 10%.

[brokeNconfused]

i dont know. Im still not sure how my trustee is going to view the added the 9% for last and this year increases.

[Flamingo]

I would go over this situation with your attorney. You can also call your state agency and explain your situation and see what they state since you are in a Chapter 13; because your finances are under a Trustee, proceeding without checking first on this with your attorney and trustee could be an issue.

[brokeNconfused]

oh..well we didnt do that.. was going to see if i qualified first. ive been trying to reach my attorny, but think my money ran out with them once i confirmed. They dont return calls, or mails.

[Flamingo]

oh..well we didnt do that.. was going to see if i qualified first. ive been trying to reach my attorny, but think my money ran out with them once i confirmed. They dont return calls, or mails.

Your attorney is paid to represent you through your entire Chapter 13...why do you think the fees are higher when you file a Chapter 13; it's not only due to the extra paperwork, it's also a longer time period.

[brokeNconfused]

thats what i thought, but like i said its hard to reach them. I did get a thank you card for allowing them to represent me. Thought that is why it was over.

[NowImDownInIt]

Keep calling, leaving voicemails, emailing, etc... If they don't get back to you, you can just show up... or threaten to file a complaint, usually that warrants a callback.

[brokeNconfused]

but they have to see me through the entire 13? I paid a retainer and the rest of fee is in bankruptcy plan. They they the are acting you would think they were done on my case.

[parsoc48]

but they have to see me through the entire 13? I paid a retainer and the rest of fee is in bankruptcy plan. They they the are acting you would think they were done on my case.

Yes they do

and no, they are not done!

[Flamingo]

but they have to see me through the entire 13? I paid a retainer and the rest of fee is in bankruptcy plan. They they the are acting you would think they were done on my case.

Your attorney represents you through the time you pay him/her to represent you in your filing to the day of discharge. Monday a.m. pick up the phone, get ahold of your attorney's assistant or paralegal and politely tell him/her that you have been trying to reach the attorney, have left several messages and need him/her to contact you. If necessary, relay the information you need to the assistant or paralegal and have them obtain an answer. Lawyers are busy folks - believe me, especially if your attorney handles a lot of bankruptcies cause they are going through the roof right now. Tell the assistant/paralegal that if you do not receive an answer in such and such a time period (i.e. one day or so) that you will show up at the office to get an answer. That will move someone to take action.

Best of luck to you.