<prompt> Human: As I stated, all my debt is IN collections and have been sitting there for a couple years now. Were talking hefty bills, from 1,000 to 4,000 each. So when I went to start paying my debt, it wasnt just payments - it was pay the whole thing or GTFO. I cant pay 5,000 like that. I make less then 1,300 a month and 900 of that goes to rent alone.I thought about debt consolidation, but heard through here that its only best for people who DONT have their debt in collections, as it re-opens the accounts and causes problems. Ive also been told this amount of money is too little for bankruptcy 95 is medical, fyiAs it is Im on ACA Health Insurance because I make too much for Medicaid. I really want to move out of the area my boyfriend and I live in because its so expense but hes against the idea. What the hell do I do? I havent paid any of it because I cant. By the end of the payweek Im scraping by with ramen.  <response>: Something is really not adding up here. In OP and comments you appear to be posting from two accounts, youve noted -- Work full time- make less than 1300mo- pay 900mo to rent- living with boyfriend and roommate- make too much for medicaid- do not qualify for food stampsIf you make less than 1300 a mo, then you are unfortunately making the fed min wage just over 15,000yr. Medicaid should qualify up to 133 of FPL which is 15654yr, even if you are in state that didnt expand medicaid believe it is 138 minimum if expanded in your state, which you should be just under if you are making min wage working full time. You arent eligible for federal programs such as SNAP for food housing assistance working full time, but at min wage you should be eligible for some state assistance programs, so definitely look into those programs. You pay 900mo 23 of your income?! toward rent, with 2 other people. assuming you all pay equally, you guys are renting a place for nearly 3 grand a month when you have debt, thats insane even with 3 people. if you are paying a disproportionate amount of the rent than the others, stop. Get a cheaper place to live, your living situation should never take that much of your income. If the 900 is the total rent split between you 3, then where are the rest of the expenses?If you are working more than 40 hours, then you should be making more than 1300. If you arent working more than 40 hours, get a side job and dedicate the income from that side job toward paying your debt, most likely they will agree to settle for a percentage of it being paid rather than the total. 