Question about Mother's Debt

[WsMitchell]

Hello. My mother is currently living in a "retirement" home. She is only 50, but due to medical procedures, she is unable to care for herself. She has about 2700 dollars in credit card debt. I have been paying on these cards for the last few months, but I have bills to pay of my own so its been rough. She currently only has 2 forms of monthly income - 260 dollars from her ex-husband in alimony and 800 from Medicare (I believe its Medicare, government medical). She has no property or cars in her name. Every cent of these 2 go directly to the retirement/ medical home so its not like I can use any of her income to pay the bills. She lives in North Carolina.

If I just stop paying the bills, will it affect her in some other way other than her credit? Her credit is already spotted from the days when she was married along with various medical bills. I just do not see the point in paying them, when in all likely hood, she will never need her credit again. I have cut up the cards, so they are not being used. I was planning to pay back the 700 from her bank based card, but I just cannot afford to keep paying on the 2000 in the other 2. I am mainly afraid of stopping payment if this is going to affect her government medical benefits. Any info or advice is appreciated.

If this is the wrong section on the forum, then just let me know and sorry for the error.

[retmar]

I'm not sure about the Alimony payments. As to the other, as you said, Medicare, I am assuming you mean Social Security. If this is true, they cannot touch that in any fashion. It is exempt from all attachments, except Taxes and Child Support. Let this sit and see if any of the others are aware of Alimony being exempt.

Then, if it is exempt, I would just stop paying the debt. There is nothing they can do to you and they cannot force you to pay the debt for her. At the same time, if you do stop paying, make sure she has no assets of any kind. Divide all of her personals with your sibs and family and don't tell anybody what you did.

I am assuming by your post that she is there indefinitely which means she has no further use of credit. If this is true, I wouldn't worry about it. That way you can use the allowed amount you can withhold from the institution to buy her things to enjoy and have some type of joy.

[msldystrkr]

First write a letter to all creditors telling them your mother is no longer able to take care of any legal matters and that she has no funds or assets to pay these bills any longer.

Now stop paying for these bills. Your mother will need your help more than these creditors. There is nothing they can do because you can't get blood out of a turnip!