Can you be sued for credit card debt if you're on disability?
On disability and in debt? Here's what creditors can — and can't — do to try and collect what's owed to them.
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March 24, 2026 / 12:34 PM EDT / CBS News
Between today's high (and rising) borrowing costs, elevated unemployment and persistent financial pressure, a hefty number of borrowers are falling behind on their bills, and their credit card debt, in particular. Part of the issue is that household debt has climbed to record levels , with credit card balances alone topping $1.28 trillion, and with credit card interest rates averaging over 21%, it's surprisingly easy for the compound interest charges to rack up quickly.
Falling behind on your high-rate debt is never ideal, as it can result in penalty interest rates , expensive late fees and credit damage. For those living on disability income, though, the stakes can feel even higher. These fixed benefits tend to leave little room to absorb any extra debt, and once you've fallen behind, the balance tends to balloon quickly — as do the collection attempts . Letters, calls and even lawsuits can quickly follow.
Can you actually be sued over unpaid credit card debt if you're on disability, though? Or are there laws that help protect you against this type of collection action? That's what we'll break down below.
Find out what debt relief strategies are available to you now .