In this explainer

If a creditor wins a judgment against you, they can take part of your paycheck - but federal law caps how much, and some income is completely off-limits. Here is exactly how wage garnishment works.

General information, not professional financial, tax, legal, or insurance advice. The Dreamy Leads Research Desk is an editorial and data team, not a licensed advisor.

Chapters

  1. 0:05 What wage garnishment is
  2. 0:28 The federal cap
  3. 0:32 What is protected
  4. 0:55 Against what you owe

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Full transcript

What wage garnishment is

Wage garnishment is when a court orders your employer to withhold part of your paycheck to pay a debt. For most consumer debts, a creditor must first sue you and win a judgment - it does not happen automatically, and ignoring the lawsuit is what most often leads to it. This is general information, not legal advice.

The federal cap

Federal law puts a ceiling on ordinary garnishment.

What is protected

Some income is shielded. Social Security and most federal benefits, plus a baseline of wages tied to the minimum wage, are generally protected from ordinary creditors. Child support, unpaid taxes, and federal student loans follow their own, often higher, rules - and many states protect more than federal law does. This is general information, not legal advice.

Against what you owe

That cap is what stands between a judgment and your whole paycheck.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much of my paycheck can be garnished?

For most consumer debts, federal law caps ordinary wage garnishment at 25 percent of your disposable earnings, or the amount by which your weekly pay exceeds thirty times the federal minimum wage, whichever is less. Some debts like child support and taxes allow more, and many states protect more than federal law. This is general information, not legal advice.

Can creditors garnish Social Security?

Generally no for ordinary creditors - Social Security and most federal benefits are protected from garnishment for typical consumer debts. Exceptions exist for certain obligations such as federal taxes, child support, and federal student loans. Confirm your situation with a licensed professional; this is general information, not legal advice.

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