if you are on state assistance and file bk

[Elle615]

I have a question. A friend said that when her brother and SIL filed for bankruptcy while on state assistance, the state started checking in on them frequently, as if they couldn't provide for their kids.

Is this common?

thank you

[Elle615]

49 views and no responses.

I guess I should phrase this differently:

Is there anybody here who filed for bankruptcy while being low income and recieving foodstamps?

If so, did filing cause problems with your assistance, and if so, what were they?

[familyof7]

I have foodstamps, and receive medicaid for our children, and 2 of our children get ssi. No it did not affect anything on either end. It actually helps the bk a little by proving low income. But the state did not care about the bk as far as the assistance I receive goes nothing changed.

[Elle615]

thank you familyof7!

I also spoke with my case worker, and she wants to look into seeing if they can back cover some of the medical debt to help us out. I told her about the garnishment on medical debt when I had my yearly interview this month too, but I guess actually saying the words "looking into filing bankruptcy" got attention.

If that happens, it'll buy us time to get things in order. That could be a blessing!

[rilbrianne]

We filed BK on 7/31/2007 and haven't gotten any news about our case changing. We get food stamps and medicaid. Nothing changed here. Of course, our case isn't over yet but it will be soon. Our 60 days is up on Nov. 19 so I'm hoping it will be discharged and closed by the end of November.

[Elle615]

thank you Rilbrianne! You guys are easing my mind immensely. (especially as I'm in Michigan too.)

[ameliabedilia]

We currently get medicaid for one more month and no one has said anything. I just filed though. I don't think it would matter. Your brother and sil probably just got a hyper case manager!

[keepmine]

I really hope you guys are m,aking some plans post bk to get off public assistance. A bk is just wasted if you can't improve your standard of living.

[6ftladycop]

I can not speak for everyone here, but every once in a while someone will post here and they seem so judgemental. How do you know what any of these circumstances are for these folks. Just because you file bankruptcy does not mean that the other bills which could not be placed under the bankruptcy do not have to be paid. I filed and I checked my bills for the month coming and I am barely breaking even. What gives you the right to say such a thing? Remember, most here were over their head in the first place. Getting the BK to clear all the overhead is one thing, but lights, gas, rent, phone, food etc are not covered. If you do not understand this, maybe you should ask someone.

[keepmine]

I can not speak for everyone here, but every once in a while someone will post here and they seem so judgemental. How do you know what any of these circumstances are for these folks. Just because you file bankruptcy does not mean that the other bills which could not be placed under the bankruptcy do not have to be paid. I filed and I checked my bills for the month coming and I am barely breaking even. What gives you the right to say such a thing? Remember, most here were over their head in the first place. Getting the BK to clear all the overhead is one thing, but lights, gas, rent, phone, food etc are not covered. If you do not understand this, maybe you should ask someone.

Nothing in my post is judgmental. It's just the plain unvarnished truth. If you file bk and are still on public assistance, you've accomplished nothing. The fresh start is meaningless.
If you're barely breaking even post bk, you better start making some strides to improve your situation or, you'll be right back behind the 8 ball in no time.
I'm speaking from experience. I'm a bk filer too. I just refuse to accept the status quo post bk. You just have to raise your income . Money makes a lot of problems go away.
I had an old football coach who used to say, "we're gonna do what we gotta do to get what we want to get".
Somehow, someway, you just have to do it or, you really have wasted a bk.

[familyof7]

Foodstamps and medicaid are a godsend and in no way would I ever be able to make enough money to pay for the medical bills my 5 children incur without it. The bills I filed bk on were things like cc and medical bills that medicaid did not cover. Have you ever herd of million dollar baby? well I have 1 he racked up 1million dollars in medical bill by the time he was 6 weeks old. The only way I would stop receiving the assistance is if I made over 40,000 per year based on my family size. I pay taxes too. The assistance I receive comes from tax dollars. Receiving the assistance has nothing to do with bk or paying bills. 2 of my children and myself that are considered uninsurable by health insurance companies because of MAJIOR health issues. receiving the state assistance has nothing to do with the debt I discharged and without the assisatnce I would be unable to maintain. So howb is my bk pointless I discharged debt I was no longer able to pay. I am now able to pay most debt but without the public assistance I wouldnt be able to. I think being on public assistance shows that you are really poor. not making enough to pay. You try raising 5 kids 2 with disabilities on 15,000 per yr.

[keepmine]

You try raising 5 kids 2 with disabilities on 15,000 per yr.

There's your problem right there. You really think you and your family have any future on $15K/year?
I'll just say again, somehow, someway you need to be able to raise your income or you're right back in the same boat before you filed.

[Elle615]

Familyof7-- I'm very sorry my query got nasty.

I'm with Familyof7. Medicaid and public assistance is a god send.


Regardless of if someone has to stay on public assistance for awhile, bankruptcy has a purpose. And it's not meaningless. And Keepmine, I'm sorry you feel that way. I sincerely hope you don't have to face what some of us do. Have you thought that bankruptcy may be a big step on the road to getting a better income and getting off public assistance?


Back on topic: I got a reply from my friends brother about what happened, and it wasn't a bankruptcy. They had some trouble in the clutter department and their landlord called the FIA on them, so they got a couple of visits. And it happened to coincide with their bankruptcy, which is why my friend got it mixed up.

Many thank you's to the brave souls that answered my query. Best wishes to you.


Where do I ask a moderator to close a thread?

[B12]

Come on guys, keep mine is not a nasty person. He has never shown himself to be and is trying to be realistic here.

This is a monitored site, not a censored one.

[B12]

"Have you thought that bankruptcy may be a big step on the road to getting a better income and getting off public assistance"


This is exactly keepmine's point.