Can Social Security recipients file for bankruptcy?

If debt becomes unmanageable, some retirees may weigh options they never expected to consider, like bankruptcy. Sunny/Getty Images Many older Americans enter their retirement years with the expectation that their financial obligations will become simpler. At that point, mortgage balances are typically lower after years of repayment, work-related commuting costs disappear and the monthly expenses they're facing often become more predictable. But for a growing number of older people, those retirement years are arriving with lingering debt problems attached. While there are numerous reasons for this trend, rising prices over the last few years have added to the pressure, as those higher expenses can be tough to fit into a fixed budget. In turn, many seniors are now struggling to keep up with their high-rate credit card payments , medical bills and personal loan balances. And as those balances linger, what began as a temporary financial challenge can quickly become a long-term burden. When debt becomes unmanageable, some retirees start looking at options they never expected to consider, including filing for bankruptcy . Yet many people receiving Social Security benefits aren't sure whether they're eligible to file for this type of relief. So, do Social Security beneficiaries have the option to use bankruptcy protection to wipe the slate clean? That's what we'll explore below. Find out how to get rid of your high-rate debt for less today . …