Eligibility Guidelines
MDRF offers free legal advice on debt relief options to any Massachusetts resident.
When direct assistance is in the person’s best interest, we offer 100% free representation to individuals at or below 150% of the Poverty Line, or for Veterans & Servicemembers, at or below 200% of the Poverty Line.
These guidelines may be adjusted on a case-by-case basis based on the individual’s specific need or hardship.
To be eligible for representation, the individual:
- Cannot own or have an interest in any real estate of any kind;
- Must not have realized a profit on the sale of any real estate in the past year;
- Cannot have more than $2,000 in cash or cash equivalents, in any type of account, bank or institution, including retirement accounts. (Excludes social security benefits);
- Total value of all other assets, (excluding cash or cash equivalents) cannot exceed $10,000;
- Household income should not exceed the below poverty guidelines, which are used by the Court to determine filing fee waiver applications. See below.
NB: Use net income after taxes and payroll deductions for estimated monthly income.
Monthly Poverty Guidelines – Used for Court fee waiver eligibility (150% of HHS Poverty Guidelines 2024)
| Persons in Household | Monthly Income | Annual Income |
| 1 | $1,882.50, | $22,590 |
| 2 | $2,555.00 | $30,660 |
| 3 | $3,227.50 | $38,730 |
| 4 | $3,900.00 | $46,800 |
| 5 | $4,572.50 | $54,870 |
| 6 | $5,245.00 | $62,940 |
| 7 | $5,917.50 | $71,010 |
| 8 | $6,590.00 | $79,080 |
| For each additional person add | $672.50 |
Income Levels for Veterans & Servicemembers
Beginning October of 2015, MDRF’s eligibility guidelines have been expanded so that the income limits for veterans, national guardsmen and members of the military is limited by 200% of the HHS Poverty Guidelines. This increase is over the 150% limit relied on by the Bankruptcy Court in granting fee waivers, so clients accepted with income over 150% will be responsible for the $338 court filing fee and the cost of the two required bankruptcy courses, which generally cost between $15-50 per course. However, qualifying clients will not be charged a legal fee.
(200% of HHS Poverty Guidelines 2024)
| Persons in Household | Monthly Income | Annual Income |
| 1 | $2,510.00 | $30,120 |
| 2 | $3,406.67 | $40,880 |
| 3 | $4,303.33 | $51,640 |
| 4 | $5,200.00 | $62,400 |
| 5 | $6,096.67 | $73,160 |
| 6 | $6,993.33 | $83,920 |
| 7 | $7,890.00 | $94,680 |
| 8 | $8,786.67 | $105,440 |