Having debt is not limited to a certain age group. This is especially true in today’s economy, where it is becoming more likely that people work well beyond retirement age in order to continue paying their bills. The law does not discriminate between who is sued for a delinquent debt, and who is not, just because of their age. The unfortunate result is that a good number of the elderly are being made to answer collection lawsuits, and they are doing so without fully arming themselves with the knowledge needed to obtain satisfactory results.
While the options to avoid collections may be limited, depending on your circumstances, there are some important things senior citizens should know about the process. Not only is social security not subject to attachment by a wage or bank garnishment, but there are other forms of income that are exempt. SSI is also not subject to being garnished, and it is also a form of supplemental income that should be explored in order to boost an elderly person’s bank account. SSI is available for:
● Blind, aged, or disabled persons with little to no income.
● Provides funds to meet basic needs.
Federal disability payments are also yours to keep, and cannot be garnished or taken from you. If you are being asked to make payments from any of these sources of income, or are being garnished and your only income are these sources, you can seek to have the monies returned to you. One way to avoid these consequences in the first place is to keep the lines of communication open with your creditors. Providing the information about the source of your income before legal action is taken may prevent a creditor from proceeding further. Before deciding how to respond to collection efforts, consult with a qualified debt relief attorney to learn your options.
If you have questions about how to avoid collections and what income sources are off limits, call our office for help. Call a Plantation, Florida debt relief attorney today for more information.
