Can Social Security and retirement income be garnished?

Submitted by hbchiefs on Wed, 01/21/2009 - 22:09

i can't pay my credit card bills, what can they do to me? They sent me a letter saying if I dont pay they will get a judgment and do so. I thought that retirement income source and Social Security income couldnt be garnished? Can a credit card company garnish my wages?

dee (not verified)

I only receive SS, I own no property and have no car. I owe 3 cc companies. I cannot make ends meet. Should I file bankrupcy or send a letter to them and make arrangements or? Will my other cc company that I have no balance withdraw their card?

Sun, 01/26/2014 - 06:38 Permalink
Bai (not verified)

Can my SS and pension be garnished if sued by a pay day lender. It is a loan apparently from long time again that I can not remember and can't seem to get much info. I live in nc but not sure what state the internet loan was through. Thank you

Tue, 02/11/2014 - 10:51 Permalink
DAVID LONDON JR (not verified)

THIS IS THE ONLY INCOME I GET. SS AND PENSON INCOME.

IS IT SAFE FROM REGULAR CREDITOR GARNISHMENT?

I HAVE DIRECT DEPOSIT AND THAT IS ALL THAT GOES IN.

Tue, 02/25/2014 - 04:06 Permalink
Floy (not verified)

My son has a medical retirement from a broken neck he can not work for the last five years .
Now his wife of 29 years moved out over a year ago and is now trying to get the state to garnish his medical retirement and she has filed for divorce and is asking 600.00 per month child support .
The state is going to take almost 1000.00 which leaves him 300.00 per month to live on .
Is there anything he can do ,he didn't want the divorce and contested it but things are just going out of control,he is also bipolar,so she also got a life insurance with a suicide clause , I am worried he may see no way to live through all this, do you have any advise for me to help him. We do have a lot of proof of the lying she has been doing to get her help from the church and the state .

Thu, 04/24/2014 - 18:16 Permalink
Bobbie H (not verified)

I am 82 and have only income from a very small ss check. I got a letter from a collection company nd I never got any letters from the bank they say I owe 400. I don't have a credit card. what can I do.

Fri, 05/09/2014 - 21:45 Permalink
john gilhooly (not verified)

If my ss and pension are electronically deposited and are responsible for all the money in a checking account is there anything required to keep the funds safe. I was thinking of getting my pension delivered to where I live and use what is in the bank to cover cashing the check and have that for spending. I am in the city so being without a car is fine, my cell is on a family plan, I have health insurance to pay each month and everything else is included in the rent. Every thing I owe is credit card debt. Am I OK?

Wed, 05/14/2014 - 02:36 Permalink
crorkz (not verified)

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Mon, 08/04/2014 - 10:50 Permalink
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Tue, 08/05/2014 - 00:58 Permalink
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Tue, 08/05/2014 - 02:49 Permalink
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Tue, 08/05/2014 - 12:17 Permalink
crorkz matz (not verified)

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Tue, 08/05/2014 - 15:20 Permalink
Albert M. (not verified)

SSD is my only income. Can the creditor go after my Bank accounts...checking..savings ?

Fri, 10/31/2014 - 19:41 Permalink
john d. (not verified)

I'm on social security disabilty and have a car payment and can't pay for it, my wife is the one it's under and I'm a co signer, because she had at one time better credit then me... now she on social security and our budget is really down now... need to let the car go back can they come back on us and sue us and get a judgement ???

Sun, 11/16/2014 - 20:37 Permalink
Ksams45 (not verified)

I am a 70 year old widow with a large credit card debt. I own my own home and it is in a trust. My only income is Social Security. Can they make me sell my home? I take care of my 90 year old mother and my 50 year old disabled daughter. Thank you.

Sun, 11/16/2014 - 23:08 Permalink
Missy 45 (not verified)

Can a credit card company puts judgement on a house that is in a trust and the only income of the person is social security

Mon, 11/17/2014 - 00:20 Permalink
"B" (not verified)

My husband and daughter are on my bank account. My husband does not use our account in any way. My daughter deposits her pay check in the account. I receive direct deposits from social security and teacher retirement. Can creditors garnish my bank account for unsecured debts owed by my daughter and me

Mon, 01/12/2015 - 04:01 Permalink
gloria (not verified)

i have a judgement for alimony can my ex husbands ss be garnished in the state of wa

Sat, 01/24/2015 - 03:15 Permalink
James M Massey (not verified)

I had written to a credit card company and tried everything possible to negotiate a settlement. I asked for a letter of validation and got back a whole bunch of past bill statements. they then served me with a court order that was not signed or had a number with a easy form paper to make them a possible settlement and or payment . schedule. we responded with them with a offer and waited for reply. they never answered us. instead they sent us a summons to the court. I have until 24 February 2015 to appear. can you advise me.

Mon, 01/26/2015 - 19:57 Permalink
rjuantello@att.net (not verified)

I LOST MY JOB AND HAVE NO INCOME COMING IN. I AM ALSO GOING THRU DISABILITY PROCESS. I OWN NOTHING. THE ONLY MONEY I HAVE IS FOR ANOTHER 3 MONTHS OF THE RENT AND UTILITIES. THE ONLY ASSET I HAVE IS AN IRA. CAN THEY TAKE THAT FROM MY BANK IF THEY SUE ME?

Wed, 01/28/2015 - 19:43 Permalink
william c n (not verified)

I live in Washington and we live month to month I get my ssi and a small retirement can they take my income on a car that blew up and will never run again we owe 9000 on it had perfect payments never late we want to give it back but we are scared to do so

Wed, 02/18/2015 - 02:28 Permalink
Anonymous (not verified)

I am 70 years old and I'm disabled my husband passed away and I'm in s financial mess.my only source of income is ssi and pension from my husband.all the money in the bank every month.can they garnish this I live in az.

Sun, 03/29/2015 - 02:46 Permalink
Lindam (not verified)

due to loans that were not paid back to me I fell into debt, living on ss income only, and owe about 20,000. I had been making pymts but now cannot because money is taken out for medicare and house note went up because of insurance rates. We are just making it, both of us are retired and 65, this was not our plan but things happen and we tried to help our grown children now we need help don't like owing people so don't know what to do stress is not helping me - diabetic. Get more than 50 calls a day, can't rest can't sleep and don't know what to do.

Tue, 04/28/2015 - 07:04 Permalink
elmer easterling (not verified)

Igot a call stating that 5th third bank will be putting a lean on my social security retirement income account or garnish my wife's bank account. She only works 3x a week. Can they do that?

Mon, 05/25/2015 - 09:29 Permalink
Earlene Mills (not verified)

I have defaulted on two credit cards when I was laid off. I just received a notice to go to court. I am retired on Social Security now and the check is deposited in a checking account with my name and husband's name on it. Since I really don't have the means to repay anyway what are the consequences If I don't show up for court?

Thu, 06/11/2015 - 03:37 Permalink
sylvia mills (not verified)

I bought a car through a finance company they are garnishing my check now I plan to retire in six months and I will also be drawing widows benefits from social security can they continue to garnish my wages

Fri, 06/12/2015 - 09:06 Permalink
vera deaderick (not verified)

I cant pay a home depot because of illness can they take my ss ckeck

Tue, 06/16/2015 - 20:58 Permalink
Don K (not verified)

I have been having a hard time paying my bills but have received VA settlement after two years. I can not just give it all back to the credit card company.

Tue, 06/30/2015 - 07:05 Permalink
judy boggs (not verified)

I cannot make my credit card payments any longer can the credit card business force me to sell the only thing I own which is a car

Mon, 07/27/2015 - 13:41 Permalink
dom digeronimo (not verified)

the above is my only income,can it be attached. I do not have a car or a home. have a court appearance coming up.

Mon, 10/05/2015 - 14:48 Permalink
Rosario Estrada (not verified)

I am 70 years old and live on SS and a small retirement totalling $1,700 a month. I am renting and paying all utilities; I am paying my credit cards every month totaling around $560.00 minimum payment and I cannot afored to pay them anymore. If I do not pay them, will I go to jail and also they will start sending me the 1099C form; how much will I have to pay to the IRS....please help me, thanks so much.

Fri, 10/23/2015 - 15:35 Permalink
Rosemarie Cooper (not verified)

On June fist I agreed to a $5,000, judgment but also expected my documents.e rd back,as well as deduct a charge that don't belong to me
The former lawyer levied Jed my doc sec funds, did not get a notification so I could make a deal to lower the judgment, or arrange a plan.
That chance was not given. This lawyer has been paid 71,000 to Handel so.tied case, a d failed his obligation.

Mon, 11/23/2015 - 07:42 Permalink
bubbles1952 (not verified)

I cosigned for a car and it got repossessed. I get civil service annuity money from retirement. can they garnished my money

Tue, 12/08/2015 - 20:17 Permalink
Tripura (not verified)

, he isn't working. I work at a scoohl district and bring home less than $1,000 a month to support my family. My daughter is in college. We are running on empty plus being garnished $200 a month to cover this debt.No one, including the garnishor can tell me what this debt is for. When asked for copies of signatures and what was purchased, they don't have it. The Sheriff's department is in charge of the garnishment and they also have nothing and refer me back to the garnishor. I am running in circles and cannot afford a lawyer to fight this. What do I do?

Tue, 12/08/2015 - 21:56 Permalink
Ginny O'Brien (not verified)

My state of Mt. retirement check (worked for 35 yrs) and my SS are deposited in my bank account. Can the IRS garnishee my checks or take my bank account for taxes? Thank you.

Mon, 12/28/2015 - 18:49 Permalink
Alice Church (not verified)

I am 69 years old,on disability SS,and draw a small pension. I was getting revenue checks on some gas wells. Those checks have dropped over fifty percent. I have not been able to pay my credit card dept,which is quite high. I don't know what to do. I foolishly used credit cards to try and keep up,thinking my revenue would start again. It has not,now I'm in a mess.

Thu, 01/07/2016 - 14:42 Permalink
john d (not verified)

I'm on social security only and I read that credit card company can't get any money from you, I also have a car and I'm paying it each month, can the credit card company sue me and get money from me for doing that ???

Sun, 01/17/2016 - 16:18 Permalink
Ann (not verified)

can credit card garnish my ban account if it's direct deosit social security and retirement?

Fri, 01/22/2016 - 16:49 Permalink
Terry O (not verified)

I have a credit card from Wells Fargo I have missed some payments due to lack of work. I have a savings and checking with a little bit in there cause just received my tax return. Can they garnish/see my balance. I need that $ to survive in case I don't work as my job is not consistent and part time. Single mom Pls advise

Wed, 03/23/2016 - 00:11 Permalink
Chuck (not verified)

I have 2 different child support cases... all my children are adults now. I was out of work due to the bad economy and owe back support on both cases.

I am now on military retirement ( which started when I hit 60 yrs old as it was reserve duty) and I just applied for SSC.

Can both my incomes be garnished for the same amount such as my payment being 500 a month can both my retirement and SSC both be garnished for 500 which would make my payment 1,000 a month and leave me with less then that to try to live on?

Fri, 05/06/2016 - 21:54 Permalink
pfd (not verified)

Hi my husband and I are on ss income only. we filed bankruptcy a few years ago. We are back in debt again and to early to file bankruptcy again. I know we shouldn't had gone back in debt but the creditors make it so easy and with limited income it just so easy to apply and use them. We were making payments and just now getting behind. My husband has been sick and we had to travel for his Dr appts. We have a child in the house that needed things for school.
any way we are behind in payments and the only income we have is social security and we have nothing in our name. What can the creditors do to us. I am worried. Thanks

Tue, 08/30/2016 - 01:23 Permalink