An attorney for Dr. Phil Astin said her client's financial situation has "deteriorated significantly" and he needs to earn money to make ends meet. Astin filed for bankruptcy on Oct. 1.

In a court filing last week, the attorney asked that Astin, who is currently under house arrest, be allowed to leave his home during working hours.

The attorney did not say what kind of work Astin plans to do if the request is granted, but she noted that the doctor has already voluntarily relinquished his medical license.

A judge had not ruled on the request or set a hearing on the request as of Monday.

Astin faces federal charges of overprescribing medication to two patients other than Benoit. The pro wrestler killed his wife and son and then committed suicide in their suburban Atlanta home in June.

Prosecutors have said Benoit, 40, strangled his wife with a cord, used a choke hold to strangle his 7-year-old son, placed Bibles next to the bodies and hanged himself on a piece of exercise equipment.

Authorities have said Astin prescribed a 10-month supply of anabolic steroids to Benoit every three to four weeks between May 2006 and May 2007. Astin currently faces no charges related to those prescriptions. More charges against Astin, however, are expected, the government has said.

Suspicions linking steroid use to the killings have lingered, since anabolic steroids were found in Benoit's home and tests conducted by authorities showed Benoit had roughly 10 times the normal level of testosterone in his system when he died.

Some experts believe that use of testosterone can contribute to paranoia, depression and violent outbursts known as "roid rage."

Benoit's father believes years of head trauma his son suffered while in the ring contributed to the killings.