About the Debtor Library
Completing a Chapter 13 plan can be challenging. If you're struggling to make your plan payments, contact your attorney immediately to understand your options.
This section may also help. It provides a library of resources available in this district and financial information that you may find useful. We hope you find it helpful.
Note: Our goal is to provide accurate, current, and useful content on this site, but the Trustee cannot provide any guarantees. Please verify any information you obtain here before relying on it. The Trustee does not intend anything on this site as an endorsement of any person, organization, product, or web site. Similarly, the Trustee cannot provide you legal advice, and none of the information on this web site is intended as legal advice.
Income Assistance
For People with Limited Resources
Supplemental Social Security (SSI). Federal income supplement program for people with very limited resources who are aged 65 or over, blind, or disabled. Other eligibility criteria also apply. Information and eligibility details here.
Families First: Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). Program that provides temporary cash assistance, transportation, childcare assistance, educational supports, job training, employment activities, and other support services. Information and eligibility details here.
Our ChanceTN. Program that supports families as increased income causes benefits to terminate. Transitional financial assistance and family-centered coaching. Information and eligibility details here.
For People with Disabilities
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Federal government programs that provide assistance to people with disabilities. Details here and here
Private Disability Insurance. Find information about private disability insurance here.
For People Temporarily Out of Work or Injured at Work
Unemployment Insurance. Temporary benefits for people unemployed through no fault of their own, who are able, available, and looking for work. Information and eligibility details here.
Workers' compensation. Assistance to cover medical expenses and lost income from a work-related injury. Information and eligibility details here. Tips for navigating Tennessee's workers' comp system here.
For Childcare Workers
Child Care WAGE$. A state program that provides supplemental income to early childhood educators based on their education and continuity of employment. Information and eligibility details here and here.
Housing and Utilities Assistance
Mortgage and Property Tax Assistance
Metro Nashville Household Assistance. Assistance for low-income Davidson County residents. Programs include: emergency assistance for residents who have suffered a loss of income and senior services for assistance with mortgage and other expenses. Find information here.
Rooftop Nashville. Rooftop offers assistance to homeowners in Davidson County who have experienced an unexpected financial hardship and need help clearing a default of up to three months' payments. Find information here.
Homeowner's Assistance Fund. (Temporary/covid related) Financial assistance for homeowners financially impacted by COVID-19. See here for information on the Tennessee program. More information is also available from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau here.
- IMPORTANT: Speak to your bankruptcy attorney first. Be sure you understand how these programs might work with your bankruptcy case.
- IMPORTANT: Speak to your bankruptcy attorney first. Be sure you understand how any agreement with your lender might work with your bankruptcy case.
- State Tax Relief Program. Tennessee program that reimburses low-income elderly or disabled homeowners and disabled veterans and their surviving spouses for property taxes paid. Information and eligibility details here.
- Property tax freeze. State law allows local jurisdictions to offer property tax freezes for taxpayers 65 years or older. Income limits apply. Information and other eligibility details here.
Metro Nashville Household Assistance. Assistance for low-income Davidson County residents. Programs include: emergency assistance for residents who have suffered a loss of income, senior services for assistance with rent and other expenses, and homeless services for assistance with rental deposits and other expenses. Find information here.
Martha O'Bryan Center. Martha O’Bryan offers rent and utility assistance to residents living in the 37206 or 37216 zip codes on a first-come, first-served basis. Please note that assistance can be provided once every twelve months. Find information here.
Rooftop Nashville.. Rooftop offers assistance to renters in Davidson County who have experienced an unexpected financial hardship and need help clearing a default of up to three months' rent. Find information here.
Other Emergency Rental Assistance. Find information on assistance programs across the state here.
- IMPORTANT: Speak to your bankruptcy attorney first. Be sure you understand how these programs might work with your bankruptcy case.
Subsidized housing and public housing. Find information here and here.
Affordable Housing. THDA sponsors a housing locator service that allows searches by income and has an "affordability calculator." Find it here.
Utility Assistance
Energy bills
- The Low Income Energy Assistance Program is a federally-funded grant program that helps income-eligible households in meeting their immediate home energy needs. Find information here.
- Temporary funds for utility costs may be available through the Homeowner's Assistance Fund.
- Catholic Charities of Tennesse offers utility assistance and other emergency assistance based on available funding. Find information here.
- The Martha O'Bryan Center offers utility assistance to residents living in the 37206 or 37216 zip codes on a first-come, first-served basis. Find information here.
- Funds to help cover past-due Nashville electric Service bills. Find information here.
Phone assistance. SafeLink Wireless provides free mobile service (eligibility based on income or participation in certain federal assistance programs). Information here.
Homeownership (Home Buying) Assistance
Find a list of resources from the Department of Housing and Urban Development here.
The Housing Fund provides several different homeownership assistance programs. It also offers home improvement loans. Find information here.
To learn about the process for getting a mortgage loan, see here. Shopping for the best mortgage rate can make a difference. A CFPB analysis shows that a typical borrower could save $100 a month by choosing a cheaper lender.
Food Resources
Government Food Assistance Programs
SNAP (Food stamps). The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provides money each month for food for people with limited resources. The money comes on a benefit card that can be used to purchase certain grocery items. Information and eligibility details here and here.
- Need help applying? Second Harvest may be able to help you apply. Information here
- More information about SNAP here.
WIC (Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children). WIC provides money each month to purchase certain grocery and pharmacy items to assist low-income pregnant women, infants, and children under the age of five. WIC also provides nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and referrals to other health, welfare, and community-based services. Information and eligibility details here and here.
Summer Food Service Program. Free meals for children through the summer. Information here.
Food Banks and Free Grocery Stores
Food Banks and Directories
- Feeding America. Find your local food bank.
- Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee. Find a food bank near you.
- FoodPantries.Org. Find food pantries and information about subsidized groceries.
- The Store. Free grocery store in Nashville.
- OneGenAway. Fresh produce, dry goods, and more provided at our periodic drive-thru food distributions — no questions asked.
- Portland Pay It Forward. Biweekly food and essentials giveaway; emergency food help; hosts a Facebook group to connect people who have items they no longer need with those in need.
Children
Childcare
Childcare Payment Assistance (Smart Steps). Payment assistance for childcare expenses. Information and eligibility details here.
Voluntary Pre-K Program. State-funded Pre-K classes are available in many Tennessee school districts. Information here.
Martha O'Bryan Early Learning Center. Child care center in East Nashville with a mixed-income model, reserving 50% of slots for low-income families. Information here and here.
Health Insurance for Children and Pregnant Women
TennCare Kids. TennCare Kids is a full program of checkups and health care services for children from birth through age 20 who have TennCare. Information here.
CoverKids. For children and pregnant women who do not have TennCare, CoverKids may help. It provides free, comprehensive health coverage for qualifying children age 18 and younger and pregnant women. Information here.
Food and Nutrition Assistance for Children and Pregnant Women
WIC (Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children). WIC provides money each month to purchase certain grocery and pharmacy items to assist low-income pregnant women, infants, and children under the age of five. WIC also provides nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and referrals to other health, welfare, and community-based services. Information and eligibility details here and here.
Summer Food Service Program. Free meals for children through the summer. Information here.
Free Books for Young Kids
Dolly Parton Imagination Library. Every child in Tennessee, from birth to age five, is eligible to receive a free book in the mail each month, addressed to the child. Sign up and find more information here.
Health Care and Bills
Free, Low-Cost, or Sliding-Scale Clinics
Find directories of reduced-cost clinics (health, dental, mental health, substance abuse) here.
In Davidson County, Project Access links uninsured residents to a network of some 35 primary health, dental, mental health and substance abuse clinics that serve patients based on their ability to pay. Find information here.
Prescription Drugs
Government assistance. CoverRx is a state program that assists low-income people with prescription drug expenses. Information and eligibility details here.
Private programs. Pharmaceutical companies have programs to provide free or discounted medicines to people who are unable to afford them called Prescription Drug Assistance Programs (PAPs). Find information here under "Save on Prescriptions". For a "search engine for many patient assistance resources" see the Medicine Assistance Tool.
Low-cost options may be available for some drugs, especially generics. The Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company offers drugs at cost plus transparent markups. Walmart has a list of generic drugs available at very low cost.
GoodRX is a free prescription price comparison tool that also offers resources for discounts on prescription drugs. Find a list of other savings cards here.
Medical Debt and Surprise Medical Bills
Medical Debt. Financial assistance or relief may be available for medical debt (especially for bills from nonprofit hospitals). Find information here. Note that most confirmed Chapter 13 plans in this district prohibit debtors from incurring new debt without court approval, other than debt for emergency medical or hospital care. For more information, see here.
Surprise Medical Bills. Federal law now protects against some surprise medical bills. Information here .
Addiction Treatment (Substance Abuse and Gambling)
Tennessee REDLINE (800-889-9789). Referral service to addiction treatment providers. Find information here .
Problem Gambling Programs. Find information about Tennessee programs here .
Health Insurance
Help Finding and Applying for Insurance
Get help applying for health insurance here. Free assistance is available.
Help Affording Insurance
Subsidies from the Affordable Care Act. Health insurance purchased through www.healthcare.gov may be more affordable than you think if you are eligible for a subsidy. Get a cost estimate here.
If your income is low, be aware of the coverage gap when you estimate what you will make for the year. It may be surprising, but subsidies are not available if your income is too low. Find more information about estimating income here.
Public insurance for people with low income who meet other rules. TennCare (Tennessee's Medicaid program) is a public health insurance program available to people in certain eligibility categories. Information and eligibility details here.
Children and Pregnant Women
TennCare (Tennessee's Medicaid program). Children and pregnant women with limited resources may be eligible for public health insurance through TennCare. Information and eligibility details here.
TennCare Kids. TennCare Kids is a full program of checkups and health care services for children from birth through age 20 who have TennCare. Information here.
CoverKids. For children and pregnant women who do not have TennCare, CoverKids may help. It provides free, comprehensive health coverage for qualifying children age 18 and younger and pregnant women. Information and eligibility details here.
Older People and Others with Long-Term Care Needs
Medicare. Federal health insurance for people 65 and older (or a disability or certain illnesses). Information here.
CHOICES. Long term services and support for people with limited resources. Information and eligibility details here.
Other Health Insurance Resources and Information
Resources for public health benefits. The Tennessee Justice Center works for policy changes but also represents and advises individuals seeking public health benefits, like TennCare. Information here.
Information about the health insurance marketplace and subsidies for private insurance. Detailed information about the health insurance marketplace in Tennessee is available here.
Other Insurance
Life Insurance
General information here and here.
Disability Insurance
Many people are not well insured for the risk of a disability. Find information about disability insurance here and here. For information about government disability programs, see here .
Taxes
Free Preparation
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA). Free basic tax return preparation for eligible taxpayers, including:
- People who generally make $58,000 or less;
- Persons with disabilities; and
- Limited English-speaking taxpayers.
Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE). Free tax help for people 60 years of age and older. The program specializes in questions about pensions and retirement-related issues. Information here.
Free Access to Tax Preparation Software
Direct File. The IRS now offers its own free guided tax preparation program. Find information here.
FreeFile. Free access to tax preparation software is available for taxpayers with adjusted gross income below a certain level ($73,000 for the 2021 tax year). Information here.
Instant refunds and paying for tax preparation from a refund
Most options for obtaining tax refunds quicker or paying for tax preparation out of refunds involve fees and costs. Information here .
Student Loans
Bankruptcy Discharge of Student Loans
A bankruptcy discharge does not automatically apply to most student loans, but it is possible to request a discharge by a separate action. Information here.
Note that some private loans for educational purposes can be discharged without the additional steps. Information here.
Nonbankruptcy Discharge of Student Loans
Finding information about your student loans. The first question for student loan relief options is often to determine what kinds of loan(s) you have. For example, most of the relief options described below are available only for federal loans. If you're not sure what kind of loans you have, a good place to start is the Department of Education's StudentAid.gov site. Log into your account or create a new one here. The account provides information on federal loans including balances and types of loans. Any student loan not listed in this account is likely a private loan.
Income Driven Repayment (IDR) Plans. For federal student loans, a borrower can request a payment plan based income. After repayment over a certain period, the balance of the debt will be forgiven (though the forgiven amount may be subject to taxation). Information here. Note that the Department announced in 2022 a plan to conduct a one-time account adjustment, which may make past periods count as qualifying time for IDR purposes, even for borrowers who had not enrolled in an IDR plan. Find more information about the account adjustment here. Also note that the Department issued regulations that would make some periods of payment under a confirmed Chapter 13 bankruptcy count as qualifying IDR plan payments. Court challenges may have affected the implementation of that regulation.
Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. For borrowers who work in public service (like government employees and certain employees of nonprofit organizations), loan forgiveness is available after just 10 years of qualifying payments under certain IDR plans. The forgiven debt is not subject to taxation. Details here. The Education Department has created a help tool to guide borrowers. Find it here. Note that the Department announced in 2022 a plan to conduct a one-time account adjustment, which may make past periods count as qualifying time for IDR purposes, even for borrowers who had not enrolled in an IDR plan. Find more information about the account adjustment here. Also note that the Department issued regulations that would make some periods of payment under a confirmed Chapter 13 bankruptcy count as qualifying IDR plan payments. Court challenges may have affected the implementation of that regulation.
Disability discharge. Borrowers who become totally and permanently disabled may qualify for a full discharge of federal student loan debt. Information here.
Closed school discharge. Borrowers may qualify for a discharge of certain student loans if they are unable to complete a program because of a school closure. Information here.
One-time Federal Student Loan Debt Relief. The Biden Administration attempted to provide a one-time discharge of federal loans up to $20,000 for eligible borrowers. But the Supreme Court blocked that plan, and the Administration has withdrawn the regulation. The end of that program, however, did not directly affect the other forms of discharge described on this page.
Help Paying Student Loans
Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program. Federal program that pays up to 85% of unpaid nursing education debt for nurses working in qualifying jobs. Information and eligibility details here.
Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program. Forgiveness of up to $17,500 of certain types of student loans if a borrower teaches for five complete and consecutive years in a low-income school or educational services agency and meets other qualifications. Information and eligibility details here.
Budgeting and Cost-Cutting
Budgeting
Make a Budget. Find a budget worksheet here. If you need help, the Trustee's Financial Counselor can provide personalized assistance. To schedule an appointment, contact the Trustee's Office at 615-244-1101.
Stick to Your Budget. Keeping track of your budget during the month can be challenging. One method to simplify the process is called the Envelope System. Find information about it here.
Savings Challenge. Try the 52-Week Savings Challenge to build up savings over the year. Find information about it here.
Free Stuff
Free Stores. Stores with free items for eligible shoppers:
- Nashville Free Store
- The Free Store
- The Store. Free grocery store in Nashville.
- Portland Pay It Forward. Biweekly food and essentials giveaway; emergency food help; hosts a Facebook group to connect people who have items they no longer need with those in need.
Libraries. Don't forget the library! Many libraries lend out a lot more than just books. The Nashville Public Library, for example, offers access to digital materials, like e-books, and digital magazines; laptops and hotspots; bikes, passes to some area attractions, and a "Library of Things" available for checkout, including musical instruments and tools.
Be Aware of Fees and Interest
Compare Bank Fees. Compare bank policies on overdraft and insufficient funds here.
Credit Reports
Bankruptcy and Credit Scores
- Find information on how bankruptcy affects your credit score here.
- Find information about improving your credit score after a bankruptcy filing here.
The credit bureaus, by law, must offer you a free copy of your credit reports once every year. And the three national credit reporting agencies — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — have committed to make free reports weekly. Request a report at www.AnnualCreditReport.com. Take care not to accidentally sign up for unwanted services. You can obtain credit reports through this site for no charge.
Correcting Inaccurate Information on Credit Reports
Federal law provides a procedure for challenging inaccurate information on your credit report. Information here.
Rental Application Denied?
Tenant screening report. Federal law requires a landlord to inform a potential tenant if information on a tenant screening report causes the landlord to deny a rental application. Information here.
Credit Repair
Do not be misled by paid credit repair services. Information here.
Understand the factors that affect your credit score. Information on how to get and keep a good credit score here.
More Information on Credit Reports
General information here. Advice on how to review credit reports here.
Job Resources
Job Boards
Jobs4TN. Job board maintained by the Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development.
Job Training and Guidance
CareerOneStop. Centralized source for information about training, job search, and local help and resources. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor. Explore here.
American Job Centers. Provide free help to job seekers for a variety of career and employment-related needs. Find the closest one here.
UpRise Nashville. Free career training program that gives you skills and certifications to land better-paying positions at established Nashville companies.Find information here.
Catholic Charities. Find information about free and affordable job-training programs offered through Catholic Charities here.
Martha O'Bryan Center. Offers comprehensive coaching and individualized support tailored to clients’ interests, assets, and needs. On site services include: targeted training in four high-demand fields (hospitality, healthcare, construction, and information technology) and job search assistance (work readiness skills training, resume support, and interview preparation). The center also offers adult education programs to help adult learners strengthen core academic skills and prepare to earn a high school equivalency degree. Find information here.
Legal Information
Legal Assistance
- Legal aid organizations offer free services to low-income individuals. Find information about the Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands here.
- Virtual legal advice clinic. Volunteer attorneys provide free online legal assistance to eligible Tennesseans here.
Many organizations offer consumer legal information online. Some options include:
- Legal Aid offers helpful booklets with basic information on common legal questions here.
- The National Consumer Law Center publishes a book-length guide to navigating debt, titled Surviving Debt, that includes expert information on most types of consumer debt. Order a copy or find a link to a free electronic version here. It also publishes a "Student Loan Toolkit" with information about the student loan system and managing student loan debt.
The Nashville Conflict Resolution Center provides free and sliding-scale mediation services to help people resolve conflicts outside a courtroom. Find information here.
Covid Related Assistance
Homeowner's Assistance Fund. Financial assistance up to $40,000 per household for mortgage payments and other housing-related costs. See here for information on the Tennessee program. More information is also available from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau here.
-
IMPORTANT: Speak to your bankruptcy attorney first. Be sure you understand how this program might work with your bankruptcy case.
-
IMPORTANT: Speak to your bankruptcy attorney first. Be sure you understand how this program might work with your bankruptcy case.
COVID Rapid Tests. If you have insurance, it may cover the cost of at-home rapid tests for Covid-19. (Tip: The pharmacy counter may be able to run the insurance at checkout to avoid any upfront cost.) Find more information here..
Funeral expenses. Assistance up to $9,000 may be available to cover funeral expenses for a death caused by COVID-19. Information here.
Other Resource Libraries
Directories Maintained by Government Agencies
- Federal Benefits Finder. Online tool available here.
- Directory of major federal assistance programs. Available here.
- Tennessee Dept of Human Services. Information here.
- Resource list compiled by TennCare Department available here.
- Tennessee 2-1-1 (United Way). Web directory and free community services help line: "When you call, you'll get a real person, one who is trained to help you sort out your needs, and then give you phone numbers and addresses of the closest places where you can get help. 211 has a database of more than 10,000 health and human services programs, cross-referenced for all sorts of keywords. So don't worry if you don't know what type of service you need or the name of an agency, just talk with the specialist at the other end of the line and she or he can help you find what you need. All calls are free and completely confidential. Hours vary by location."
- The "Where to Turn in Nashville" resource guide is a publication of Open Table Nashville in coordination with Middle Tennessee nonprofits, hospitals, churches, and public agencies."
- DisasterAssistance.gov. Federl government website to provide disaster survivors with information, support, services, and a means to access and apply for disaster assistance.
