All federal, state, and local governmental agencies are prohibited from discriminating against you because you've filed for Chapter Seven. This includes firing you, denying or terminating your public benefits, excluding you from public housing, refusing to renew your state liquor license, excluding you from a state home mortgage finance program, denying you a driver's license, denying you a government contract, or excluding you from participating in a government-guaranteed student loan program. Private employers also can't fire you just because you filed for Chapter Seven. However, if an employer refuses to hire you because you have a poor credit history-- not just because you filed for bankruptcy-- you may not have any recourse. Chapter Seven filings are part of your consumer credit report for ten years when you file Chapter Seven, and federal law allows employers to review your credit report. If you feel you've suffered illegal discrimination because you filed bankruptcy, you'll probably have to sue or file a complaint, and you'll probably need an attorney. To find out how filing Chapter Seven might affect your employment situation, contact a bankruptcy attorney.
