Why is debt management geared towards higher incomes?

Welcome to the Community :D If you can share a little about what type of debt you have, and approx how much, we can help. If you signed up for the free credit counseling when you registered, someone will contact you and discuss options you may have, such as consolidation. Debt management/and or debt consolidation, take into account various thing, such as debt to income ratio-balances owed, etc. Have you tried to contact your creditors and asking them to drop or lower your interest? Sometimes they have a hardship-type of program, whre they will do this. Feel free to ask questions, we are here to help!!..KAren

The debt is hospital bills, three credit cards, student loan and family loans all totaling about $35,000. All of these problems started with a week long hospital stay that caused job loss.

I have registered for credit counsleing. Other programs just tell me to look for lower rent or get another job. I can't find a lower rent due to being on a housing program. They are using my gross income to come up with my rent amount that is still 60% of my income. Rents are about the same amount all over the city I live in. To find another job would be tricky due to my health and energy levels. Some weeks I can barely finish the 40 hours I have now.

I just need to start looking for answers so here I am asking questions. Baby steps.

I'm glad you signed up for the credit counseling- they can find a solution for you, hopefully! They will also discuss detb settlement- it isn't as good as having them makred paid in full, but with the amount you owe, it may be better. Have you talked with the hospital about your debt? Alot of times they write off the balance if they think they cannot collect anything from you, now or in the future, or if you own nothing,talk with them when they contact you for the credit counseling to see what they come up with.

I am sorry to hear about your troubles and hope we can help. You are currently working now. When you were in the hospital, did you have insurance at the time? And did it pay the max benefit allowed?
You also said you're having difficulty working now. Have you looked into possibly getting some kind of permanent aid, like SSI or another type of disability plan? Also, some companies have long-term disability plans, or supplemental ones like AFLAC offers. Were you enrolled in anything like that at your previous job? If so, this would help you rest and recover completely.
Also, many utilities offer special programs for consumers who meet income guidelines. You might want to look into that. Good luck and keep us posted, OK?

Thanks for all the encouragement. I did have insurance and everything was paid that was eligible.

I can work my hours fine but I have trouble with attendence due to changes in weather or bugs. Can't fight them off as well anymore. SSI is out of the question and most of the other programs due to my income amounts.

I am going to follow up on the advice from this web site however.

I hope things are indeed looking up for you! You said you had problems getting to work after weather changes. Have you thought of possibly filing a Family Medical Leave Act claim? This is something you can file for a family member or yourself due to a chronic medical condition--and consists of verification from your doctor that you have this condition which could interfere with your coming to work.
Although this would mean no additional money, a FMLA claim in your record means protected time and would prevent your company from writing you up and possibly terminating you for attendance. There are specific service-time requirements and company size requirements before you can do this, and I urge you to check with your company's HR person.

And in my company if you have fmla leave..you can use personal or vacation time to supliment the days you are off. I have an associate on this now and she takes off 2 days every 3 weeks to be with her husband while he has chemo done.