I never got to sell my house and pay off credit cards. My house was destroyed by flooding. With no flood insurance my damages are more than house, I still owe the mortgage and have decided to file bankruptcy. Fema mailed me a check for $11,000 for house repairs when they knew the house wasn't going to be fixed. I sure need rent assistance. Can I cash this after bankruptcy and pay rent? Do I tell my lawyer?

I never got to sell my house and pay off credit cards. My house was destroyed by flooding. With no flood insurance my damages are more than house, I still owe the mortgage and have decided to file bankruptcy. Fema mailed me a check for $11,000 for house repairs when they knew the house wasn't going to be fixed. I sure need rent assistance. Can I cash this after bankruptcy and pay rent? Do I tell my lawyer?


NEVER lie to your Attorney, particularly about your assets when you file in bankruptcy.

I don't know what FEMA knew or didn't know but if the check was for damage repairs and you use it for another purpose you can be criminally charged.

If you have a check for 11,000 it has to be included as part of the list of your money on hand. You are allowed a certain amount of property and so on. Or of course you can just prepay your current rent for 6 months or so if you want to spend down part of that money.