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 2025)
| Persons in Household | Monthly Income | Annual Income |
| 1 | $1,956.25 | $23,475 |
| 2 | $2,643.75 | $31,725 |
| 3 | $3,331.25 | $39,975 |
| 4 | $4,018.75 | $48,225 |
| 5 | $4,706.25 | $56,475 |
| 6 | $5,393.75 | $64,725 |
| 7 | $6,081.25 | $72,975 |
| 8 | $6,768.75 | $81,225 |
| For each additional person add | $687.50 |
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 2025)
| Persons in Household | Monthly Income | Annual Income |
| 1 | $2,608.33 | $31,300 |
| 2 | $3,525.00 | $42,300 |
| 3 | $4,441.67 | $53,300 |
| 4 | $5,358.33 | $64,300 |
| 5 | $6,275.00 | $75,300 |
| 6 | $7,191.67 | $86,300 |
| 7 | $8,108.33 | $97,300 |
| 8 | $9,025.00 | $108,300 |