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What is Social Security?
Social Security benefits were developed to protect workers and their families from loss of income due to disability or death. Three types of Social Security benefits are available: Retirement, survivors, and disability. Retirement benefits are paid based on age. Survivor benefits are paid to family members of deceased workers. Disability benefits are paid based on a workers inability to work for medical reasons.
You are entitled to Social Security benefits one of three ways: If you or your spouse retires; if you are a dependant of someone who becomes disabled or dies; or if you become disabled.
Full retirement benefits begin at age 66, though reduced retirement benefits can be drawn beginning at age 62. Social Security retirement benefits are available to anyone who has worked long enough to meet the eligibility rules. Retirement ages are changing. Call your local Social Security office for more information.
Survivor benefits can be paid to the deceased spouse's widow as full benefits at age 65 or older or reduced benefits at age 60. A disabled widow or widower can begin getting benefits at ages 50 to 60. A widow can claim benefits at any age if she or he takes care of a child who is under 16 or is disabled and receives benefits. Unmarried children under 18 (or up to age 19 if they are attending elementary or secondary school full time) also can receive survivor benefits. Under certain circumstances, benefits also can be paid to stepchildren, grandchildren, or adopted children. If you've been divorced, your former wife or husband can get benefits under the same circumstances as a widow if the marriage lasted 10 years or more. Your former spouse, however, does not have to meet the length-of-marriage rule if she or he is caring for your child who is under 16 or disabled and who also is receiving benefits on your Social Security record. The child must be your former spouse's natural or legally adopted child. Your local Social Security office can help answer questions about eligibility for survivor benefits
Disability benefits are paid to disabled workers and in some cases, their dependant children. A form of disability benefits is available regardless of your age if you are found disabled under the Social Security's guidelines. In addition, if you are disabled your family members may qualify for benefits as dependants. Children under 18 (and some disabled adult children) may be also eligible if one parent receives disability benefits or is deceased.

What is Bankruptcy?
Bankruptcy is a legal proceeding in which a person who cannot pay his or her bills can get a fresh financial start by discharging debts. Filing bankruptcy immediately stops most of your creditors from taking any legal action against you while you are in your bankruptcy case.
What can bankruptcy do for me?

Eliminate the legal obligation to pay most or all your debts. It is designed to give you a fresh financial start.
Stop foreclosure on your house and allow you an opportunity to catch up on missed payments. Bankruptcy does not, however, automatically eliminate mortgages or other liens on your property without payment.
Prevent repossession of a car or other property or force the creditor to return property even after it has been repossessed within a certain time frame of filing a bankruptcy case.
Stop wage garnishment, debt collection harassment, and similar creditor actions to collect a debt.
Restore or prevent termination of utility service.

What bankruptcy cannot do
Bankruptcy cannot, however, cure every financial problem. Nor is it the right step for everybody. In bankruptcy, it is usually not possible to:

Eliminate certain rights of "secured" creditors. A "secured" creditor has taken a mortgage or other lien on property as collateral for the loan. Common examples are car loans and home mortgages. You may be able to force secured creditors to accept payments over time in the bankruptcy process and bankruptcy may eliminate your obligation to pay any additional money if your property is taken. Nevertheless, you generally cannot keep the collateral unless you continue to pay the debt.
Discharge types of debts singled out by the bankruptcy law for special treatment, such as child support, alimony and certain other debts related to divorce, student loans, court restitution orders, criminal fines, and taxes
Discharge debts that arise after bankruptcy has been filed.

Will bankruptcy wipe out all my debts?
Yes, with some exceptions. Bankruptcy typically will NOT wipe out:

Money owed for child support or alimony, fines, and taxes;
Debts not listed on your bankruptcy petition;
Loans obtained by knowingly giving false information to a creditor;
Debts resulting from "willful and malicious" harm;