Can a debt collector take my Social Security or my pay?
A medical bill or another debt went to collection, a letter says your bank account or your pay will be garnished, or SNAP says you were overpaid. Federal law protects some of your money. Here is what it protects, with the rule each line comes from. Numbers you type below stay on this page: nothing is kept or sent.
1. Benefits paid into your bank account
Social Security, SSI, VA benefits, Railroad Retirement and federal retirement (OPM) cannot be garnished for an ordinary debt. If one of them is paid to your account by direct deposit, the bank has to protect it on its own when a garnishment order arrives.
Within two business days the bank looks back two months. You keep full access to the smaller of: all the benefits deposited in those two months, or what is in the account. You do not have to ask or fill in a form for that amount. The bank cannot charge its garnishment fee against it, and it cannot keep taking later deposits unless a new order arrives.
Money above that amount: the bank follows your state's law and must send you a notice. The notice says how to claim more of it as protected, through the court, the creditor or an exemption form, and that you can ask a lawyer or legal aid.
When this does not apply: an order from the United States or a state child support agency that comes with a "Notice of Right to Garnish Federal Benefits". Benefits paid by paper check are not covered by the bank's automatic look-back.
Source: 31 CFR part 212 (sections 212.2, 212.3, 212.4, 212.5, 212.6 and 212.7) and 42 U.S.C. 407(a), read 2026-10-28.
2. Your paycheck
For an ordinary debt, such as a medical bill or a credit card, the most that can be taken from one week's pay is the smaller of: 25% of your disposable pay, or the amount over 30 times the federal minimum wage ($7.25 an hour, so $217.50 a week). If your disposable pay for the week is $217.50 or less, none of it can be taken.
Disposable pay is what is left after the deductions the law requires, like taxes. For other pay periods the same rule gives: every two weeks $435.00, twice a month $471.25, once a month $942.50.
This limit does not cover child support or alimony orders (up to 50% to 65%), federal or state taxes, or a Chapter 13 bankruptcy order. Your state's law can protect more than this, never less.
Your employer cannot fire you because your pay was garnished for one debt.
Source: 15 U.S.C. 1673, 29 CFR 870.10 (the pay-period formula; a month counts as 4 1/3 weeks), 29 CFR 870.11 (the exceptions), 29 U.S.C. 206(a)(1)(C) ($7.25), 15 U.S.C. 1674 (firing) and 15 U.S.C. 1677 (state law), read 2026-10-28.
3. Social Security and a debt to the federal government
For a debt you owe a federal agency (not taxes), the Treasury can take part of your monthly Social Security. It takes the smallest of: the debt, 15% of the monthly payment, or the amount over $750. If your monthly Social Security is $750 or less, nothing is taken. SSI is not taken this way.
Before it starts, you get a letter with the start date, the agency asking for the money and a contact there. That contact is where to dispute the debt or ask about a payment plan.
Source: 31 CFR 285.4 (paragraphs (a), (e) and (f), with the rule's own examples: $850 a month, $100 taken; $1,250 a month, $187.50 taken; $650 a month, nothing), read 2026-10-28.
4. A letter says you were overpaid SNAP
The letter must say how much, why, for which months, how it was worked out, and whether the state calls it your error, its own error, or fraud. You can see and copy the records behind it.
You have 90 days to ask for a fair hearing on the claim, unless the amount was already decided at a hearing.
If it was an honest mistake by you or a mistake by the state, the state can cut your monthly SNAP by no more than $10 or 10% of your monthly benefit, whichever is more, unless you agree to more. (For a fraud finding the limit is $20 or 20%.) It cannot cut your first month when you are newly approved unless you agree.
The state may lower the claim if it believes you cannot repay it, and it may settle for less if your money situation means it would not be paid in three years. Ask, in writing, and keep a copy.
Source: 7 CFR 273.18 (paragraphs (b), (e)(3)(iv), (e)(7) and (g)(1)), read 2026-10-28. Work out the last day from the date on your letter.
What to do now
Read the notice from the bank, the court or the agency today. It names the creditor, the amount and how to claim your exemption. The dates on it are the ones that count.
A hospital bill: nonprofit hospitals must offer financial help and wait before collecting. See what you are owed.
Legal aid offices help with garnishment and debt cases, usually at no charge to people with low income. Call 211 and ask for legal aid near you.
This page explains federal rules. It is education, not legal advice. A court or the agency decides your case, and your state's law may protect more. Other needs: every need, one door each.