Bankruptcy question

This is for those who have actually filed bankruptcy.

So a guy who was my husband friend is suppose to pay my husband and I $250. He was on our phone plan and well you know how that goes. So anyways in October he messaged my husband saying how he is cleaning up his act and has a good job so he can finally pay us that money. Since then he has not. Which I'm not even expecting it at this point anyways. However my husband messaged him today asking about when he was going to send the money and he said "some time this year" my husband says "ok" and the guy then says "I'm not losing my bankruptcy over $250"

Sooo my question is, are you not allowed to pay people money?? Like I'm confused. We're not a creditor or anything like that. So how could paying us affect his bankruptcy?