PLEASE READ I need advice. Today, I received a summons from my local sheriff’s dpt that MEFA (Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority) and their attorney, Zwicker & Associates are suing me, 25 y/o, and my co-signer, my 78 y/o grandmother who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s this year for ~$26, 261.39. In the Summons I received, I do not see a court date but I was told that I have 20 days to respond with an “Answer”- a written response to the statements made by the Plaintiff (MEFA) in the complaint. In my Answer, I must state whether I agree or disagree with each paragraph of the complaint. In the Complaint, it states, “as a result of the default by Defendant(s), Plaintiff has accelerated the full balance due”. In the statement of damages, it says, “principle plus referred interest as of date of complaint plus court costs- $26, 261. 39”.

Context: I’m providing this context not for sympathy or pity but to help understand my situation. This private loan was signed by myself and my grandmother in 2017 when I was graduating highschool. I was living with her at the time and received a pamphlet from MEFA, and because I was going to be a first generation college student, I went ahead with the first thing I saw about “how to afford college”. I have had little to no family support my entire life. I’ve never lived with either of my parents, they rely on “under the table” income and government assistance to live. They are financially illiterate, as am I (but I’m now forcing myself to ask these questions that I’ve been avoiding). I was not prepared to have made those big life decisions at the time.

This loan is for an institution that I transferred from. I did not graduate from this institution. Actually, I have never graduated from college with a degree. In 2022, I completed a certificate program. So these loans were all a complete waste. I’m a 25 yo woman and I’ve struggled my entire life. As a toddler, I watched my parents run out of gas on the highway and steal from loved ones to get by. I vowed to myself as a little girl that I’d never live like them and here I am. In 2009, I was hospitalized and diagnosed with chronic anxiety, OCD, major depression and ADD. Other health issues include: Crohn’s disease, PCOS, chronic anemia and possibly Lupus (my mom has it and I have symptoms). In 2017, I developed binge eating disorder and gained 85+lbs. I stopped living and dropped out of college but returned in 2021 and got a certificate. I’ve been on SSRIs since 2009 but it is still nearly impossible for me to live my life outside of whichever family member I’m living with. I’m typically tossed around from grandparent to grandparent. I haven’t paid taxes since 2019, I’m currently unemployed with absolutely no income. I’ve been babysitting part time thru the years (which I genuinely enjoy and think it’s the only thing I’m good at), getting paid via Venmo. I currently live with my abusive mother, no, I’m not paying rent. I do own a 2005 Jeep. I have no savings account. I am $2K in credit card debt and also owe ~$27K in federal student loans. My co-signer for these private loans is my 78 yo grandmother who was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Her condition is deteriorating progressively. The court will most likely take away her house bc of this which my mom is supposed to get for my 3 innocent sisters to have a home one day. I learnt about Disability relief for fed loans but I think I need to apply for Social Security disability first? My psychiatrist told me SS doesn’t approve for disability benefits unless I undergo a neuropsych eval but the waitlist is ~1 yr. I can see no way out of this. I’m experiencing harmful thoughts. The little girl who promised to never live a life like this is broken. I cannot commit to a full time job because something always goes wrong. Whether with my family life, my health or simply just because I lack motivation and desire. My life seems to be worthless.

Please. If you read this. Please advise me on what I could do to save myself. Thank you so much.