Question: I lost my job in aug 2009 after 15 years. I now make 9.75 an hour,I am not discharged from a feb 2007 bankruptcy and am due to pay about 3000.00, I have a evcition from my landlord and don’t want to relocate my family the only money I have is in a locked in rrsp,I AM APPLYING FOR FINANCIAL HARDSHIP FOR LOW INCOME AND EVICITION this will take time, there will be about 7000.00 left over if aproved after my rent is paid based on my 2010 income that I would like to ask for to help for rent for 2010 . can I use some of this money to pay my trustee so I can get discharged, and the balance for rent to come in 2010.
Answer: Perhaps. This is a complicated area, so you should discuss it with your trustee.
If you filed bankruptcy in February 2007 you have probably already had a discharge hearing, where the Bankruptcy Judge determined what was required for you to finish your bankruptcy. It would appear that the judge decided that you are required to pay $3,000. It is therefore possible that you can unlock your LIRA and use the money to pay the trustee.
However, you want to discuss this with the trustee first, since you do not want the trustee to attempt to seize all of the money when it is unlocked.
Again, without more specific knowledge of your case, it is impossible to give a more specific answer.