Having spent more than a decade since I first became disabled, I've learned a few things about Credit Reports, Scores and Collection Agencies.

The following site provides lots of really good information about all things credit related for free in their forums. The owners/moderators are ethical and intelligent people IMHO.

http://www.creditboards.com/mambo/

If you have delinquent accounts with your original creditors, or can no longer keep them current, then it is a good idea to contact them to let them know about your financial hardship to see if they will stop your payments, reduce your interest, etc. Be prepared that they might insist the account be closed in order to qualify for these considerations.

If you have old debts that have been sold to a collection agency, please understand the damage has already been done to both your report and your score. Furthermore, if you make any payment, it will reset the statute of limitations and can further decrease your scores by not allowing the bad debt to age. And, your former creditor will receive none of your payment since they have sold the account. Collection Agencies will often inflate old debts to absurd amounts that have no relation to the contract you had with the original creditor, anyway.

Never speak to a Collection Agency on the phone! Screen your calls or hang up on them. They will lie to you. Even if you ignore everything I've said here, if you insist on dealing with them, only do it in writing via registered snail mail.

When (or if) you receive your SSI/SSDI backpay and/or monthly benefits, do not comingle your funds with sources of money that can be attached (WC money, your spouse's paycheck, etc.) if you are sued. Uncle Sam has made SSI/SSDI funds off limits because if you are truly disabled that backpay should be going to pay for your current needs. They don't want you paying off debt collectors and then needing additional government benefits like housing assitance or food stamps. This doesn't mean you can run up credit card bills with the plan to default because you think this an excuse for a "get out of jail free card." Activity like that would be considered fraudulent...