cause problems to sign up for food stamps before 341?

[tdawg]

This is probably a stupid question. I was laid off and I'm only getting unemployment now. My lawyer filed me on Friday for Chapter 7. I am way under (several thousand dollars) on the I - J.

It wouldn't cause any problems for me to sign up for food stamps before the 341, would it?

[OHBOY]

My gut says: HELL NO ! (no problem) When you got to eat you got to eat ! I like to see a trustee challenging that one....I probably would truly have a 'mouthful' on any challenge (ha)...

[MSbklawyer]

They will be counted as income. But if, as you say, you are way under on the I and J, and you qualify for food stamps, then you are probably also under median on the means test. Shouldn't be a problem.

[backtoschool]

If you qualify for food stamps, you are well under the median income for your district, so even if you get food stamps and they are counted as income on your means test, you should still be well under the median and the extra income will not affect your bankruptcy.

[tdawg]

I was just laid off this month. So, I am not under by too much ($300 or $400 if I remember correctly) on the means test. However, since unemployment is 1/3 or 1/4 of my previous income, I am way under now. From what I've seen about signing up for food stamps, I should qualify based off of my current income. Since I have already filed chapter 7, signing up for food stamps now should in no way affect my means test, right? I'm assuming I'll have to tell the trustee about this when I go to my 341.

I guess I'd better ask my lawyer before I sign up for them. And maybe if worst comes to worst, I'll have to wait until after my 341 to sign up for them. I was just trying to spend as little of the unemployment that I'm getting on food because my monthly expenses are much higher than my unemployment and I'm not sure how long it will take me to find a new job.