Can Social Security Benefits Be Taken If You Have Unpaid Debt?
- If a lender wins a judgment against you for an unpaid debt, garnishment is one way they could collect.
- Garnishment means that money or property is taken from you.
- There are limited circumstances under which your Social Security benefits could be garnished.
When you’re under financial stress, it’s natural to worry about what might happen next. Take a deep breath—there are clear rules about what creditors can and cannot do.
When creditors win a judgment, they could ask the court to garnish your wages or property. Garnishment would mean that wages, income, or property are taken from you and given to your creditors. For example, when your wages are garnished, the money is typically taken directly out of your paycheck before you receive it. When your benefits are garnished, that means money is withheld from you.
Some types of wages and income are up for grabs with garnishment, but even court-ordered judgments have limits. Knowing the rules and what they mean for your finances could help you regain some peace of mind.
Can Social Security benefits be garnished or levied?
Yes, it’s technically possible for your Social Security benefits to be garnished when a court sends the Social Security Administration (SSA) a garnishment order. However, this only happens under very specific circumstances.
When can your Social Security be garnished?
The Social Security Administration could withhold your benefits in certain cases to enforce a legal obligation, including:
Alimony
Child support
Criminal restitution
If you have certain kinds of tax debt, the IRS could also garnish your benefits—up to 15% of your monthly Social Security payments. For example, if you have overdue federal tax debt, your benefits could be garnished until the tax debt is paid.
Another government agency—the U.S. Treasury—could withhold Social Security benefits if you owe certain delinquent non-tax debts to federal agencies. Examples of these debts include federal student loans, unpaid fines and penalties, and overpayments for government programs or salaries.
In other words, if you owe money to the government or you owe child support, alimony, or restitution, then you could lose part of your Social Security check.
Can Private Lenders Garnish Your Social Security Checks?
Short answer: no. When you simply owe money to private creditors or lenders, garnishment of your Social Security benefits isn’t generally an option for your creditors.
Let’s say you have unpaid credit card debt. Your credit card company can't ask the Social Security Administration to take your benefits.
Creditors have other methods they could use to try to collect from you. For example, they could ask a court for an order to garnish wages or levy your bank accounts. They could ask a court to put a lien on your property. But your directly deposited Social Security is pretty safe.
The key to making sure your federal benefits are protected is to use direct deposit. When your benefits are directly deposited into your account or onto a prepaid card, they’re protected by federal law. Banks must automatically protect up to two months' worth of benefits from being seized.
You can sign up anytime to have federal benefits direct deposited to your bank account or loaded onto a prepaid card.
How to Find Debt Relief
If you’re at risk of having wages or assets garnished or levied, take action. Look for some methods to resolve your debt.
Several options exist for debt relief, such as:
Debt consolidation. You combine several balances into a new loan, potentially with a lower interest rate that could save you money. You streamline your finances and hopefully reduce your monthly payment.
Debt settlement. You negotiate with your creditors to accept less than you owe. The rest of your debt is forgiven but could result in a higher tax bill. You can also have an experienced debt settlement firm negotiate on your behalf.
You don't have to wait for the court to order your bank account or wages to be seized—you have the power to explore the solutions to find one that fits. If you’re struggling, you could try to arrange a better plan with your creditors.
If you’re in over your head and worried about garnishment, it just makes good sense to take some action. Not sure where to start? Contact Freedom Debt Relief today to speak to one of our experienced Debt Experts.
Debt relief stats and trends
We looked at a sample of data from Freedom Debt Relief of people seeking a debt relief program during December 2025. The data uncovers various trends and statistics about people seeking debt help.
Credit card balances by age group for those seeking debt relief
How do credit card balances vary across different age groups? In December 2025, people seeking debt relief showed the following trends in their open credit card tradelines and average credit card balances:
Ages 18-25: Average balance of $9,117 with a monthly payment of $272
Ages 26-35: Average balance of $12,438 with a monthly payment of $375
Ages 36-50: Average balance of $15,436 with a monthly payment of $431
Ages 51-65: Average balance of $16,159 with a monthly payment of $524
Ages 65+: Average balance of $16,546 with a monthly payment of $488
These figures show that credit card debt can affect anyone, regardless of age. Managing credit card debt can be challenging, whether you're just starting out or nearing retirement.
Home-secured debt – average debt by selected states
According to the 2023 Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF) (using 2022 data) the average home-secured debt for those with a balance was $212,498. The percentage of families with mortgage debt was 42%.
In December 2025, 25% of the debt relief seekers had a mortgage. The average mortgage debt was $236504, and the average monthly payment was $1882.
Here is a quick look at the top five states by average mortgage balance.
| State | % with a mortgage balance | Average mortgage balance | Average monthly payment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 20 | $391,113 | $2,710 | |
| District of Columbia | 17 | $339,911 | $2,330 | |
| Utah | 31 | $316,936 | $2,094 | |
| Nevada | 25 | $306,258 | $2,082 | |
| Massachusetts | 28 | $297,524 | $2,290 |
The statistics are based on all debt relief seekers with a mortgage loan balance over $0.
Housing is an important part of a household's expenses. Remember to consider all your debts when looking for a way to get debt relief.
Manage Your Finances Better
Understanding your debt situation is crucial. It could be high credit use, many tradelines, or a low FICO score. The right debt relief can help you manage your money. Begin your journey to financial stability by taking the first step.
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Author Information
Written by
Kimberly Rotter
Kimberly Rotter is a financial counselor and consumer credit expert who helps people with average or low incomes discover how to create wealth and opportunities. She’s a veteran writer and editor who has spent more than 30 years creating thousands of hours of educational content in every possible format.
Reviewed by
Christy Bieber
Christy Bieber has been writing about personal finance and law for 16 years. She has a JD from UCLA School of Law with a focus on business law, and a BA in English, Media & Communications from the University of Rochester, as well as a Certificate of Business Administration.
Under what circumstances can your Social Security be garnished?
Your Social Security benefits can only be garnished by court order for specific types of debt, including:
Unpaid alimony or child support
Restitution
Unpaid tax debt
Debt owed to another government agency
How do I protect my Social Security from creditors?
Private lenders generally can't garnish your Social Security benefits. The best way to protect your benefits from any source, though, is to pay your creditors on time. If you can't pay, contact them and work out a payment plan if possible. That way, they won't have to resort to collection activities.
Can a debt collector get my Social Security?
A debt collector usually can't get your Social Security. It depends on the kind of debt, though. If you have unpaid tax debt, child support, alimony, restitution, or debts to certain other government agencies, a part of your Social Security benefit could be garnished.