Working during the seven days of mourning with a large bank overdraft
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Question
A person with a large bank overdraft, can they work from home during their mourning period?
Answer
Although a mourner who has nothing to eat is permitted to work after three days (and a curse be upon the neighbor who does not help), in this case, since the work is not being done to have something to eat now, but rather to prevent the overdraft from increasing, it is forbidden for him to work during his mourning period even after three days.
Source
Gemara Moed Katan, page 21b: The Rabbis taught: During the first three days of mourning, work is forbidden, even for a poor person who lives on charity. From then on, one may work discreetly in their home, and a woman may spin with a spindle in her home. Ramban writes that the permission to work after three days is only when one has absolutely nothing to eat, but if one can pawn something and eat from those funds, work is forbidden.