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The Daily Insight Hub

Can I get my debt written off due to mental illness?

Author

Emma Miller

Updated on February 19, 2026

Creditors will want to see evidence of this (usually in the form of a budget sheet and medical evidence of any mental illnesses). Creditors may also ask for a Debt and Mental Health evidence form. Getting creditors to agree to write off debts can be a long process with no guarantee of success.

What does debt do to mental health?

It’s never too late to take control of your money and get help with your debt. Mental health and money are connected. Mental health problems can make it harder to earn and manage your money, and debt can trigger or worsen conditions such as anxiety, depression and stress.

Can a schizophrenic sign a legal document?

While people may enter contracts to avoid legal problems or to protect their interests because they feel they have no choice, a person can’t be forced to sign a contract. When a person is so mentally impaired that he can’t understand the agreement he is entering into, most state laws view this as a kind of duress.

Does debt lead to depression?

According to a survey of readers from financial coaching company Student Loan Planner, mental health and student loan debt are inextricably linked. Below are just three key findings that this specific study found: “53% of high debt student loan borrowers have experienced depression because of their debt.”

Can you sue an insane person?

A person must have the requisite legal capacity to be a party to a lawsuit. Others who suffer a similar legal disability include mentally ill persons, mentally retarded persons, and persons who are judged mentally incompetent because of illness, age, or infirmity.

When can a mentally incompetent person void a contract?

If someone that has been declared mentally incompetent tries to go into a contract on his or her own, the contract is considered void. If a person was not aware that they were entering into a contract and he or she is mentally incapacitated, the law provides that it is a voidable case.

Can a mentally disabled person get a credit card?

If You Are Mentally Disabled Can Credit Cards Collect Debt? In the 1990s, the mentally disabled population were often granted credit cards, regardless of their ability to repay a loan or capacity to enter into a contract. Depending on the severity of a mentally disabled individual’s situation, he may be protected from creditors.

Who is responsible for credit card debt for a disabled person?

Only the cardholder is responsible. If you’re disabled with a terminal illness, your credit card debt won’t transfer to anyone else after you die. However, this only holds so long as you don’t have joint co-signed credit cards co-signed with your spouse or another family member.

When to tell creditors about mental health issues?

If you are finding it difficult to deal with your debts, then you may want to tell your creditors that you are experiencing mental health issues. It is your choice, but it may help with your negotiations. Creditors have to comply with the law.

Can a person with mental disability collect debt?

If you are his guardian, you may succeed in having the debt negotiated by simply writing the lender and submitting proof of guardianship, along with proof that the borrower was not legally able to enter a contract because of mental disability.