During your repayment period, situations may arise that prevent you from complying with the plan. For example, if injury or illness hinders your ability to work and earn enough income to honor your debts, you may qualify for a hardship discharge. To earn this type of discharge, three factors must be present:
Your inability to complete the approved payment plan is due to circumstances beyond your control and through no fault of your own;
Your creditors have received at least as much repayment as they would have collected under a Chapter 7 liquidation; and
It is not possible to modify your Chapter 13 plan.
If a hardship discharge is granted, any dischargeable, nonpriority debt will be wiped out. However, like a Chapter 7 bankruptcy case, certain debts are not dischargeable, including student loans, tax debts or child support.