Sometimes, avoiding bankruptcy isn't your best option. Only you can decide that, but just remember that bankruptcy isn't the end of the world either. If you have many thousands of unsecured credit card debt and you are looking at SSDI as your only income, it's an option to consider. Sometimes a good non-profit consumer advice agency will even encourage you to file bankruptcy. (Especially if you don't have assets to protect.) And it doesn't mean that you'll never get a loan again as long as you live, either.