Can bankruptcy stop Social Security garnishment?

MoneyWatch: Managing Your Money Can bankruptcy stop Social Security garnishment? We may receive commissions from some links to products on this page. Promotions are subject to availability and retailer terms. .chip { background-image: url('/fly/bundles/cbsnewscore/images/chip-bgd/chip-bgd-moneywatch.jpg'); } By Angelica Leicht Angelica Leicht Senior Editor, Managing Your Money Angelica Leicht is the senior editor for the Managing Your Money section for CBSNews.com, where she writes and edits articles on a range of personal finance topics. Angelica previously held editing roles at The Simple Dollar, Interest, HousingWire and other financial publications. Read Full Bio Angelica Leicht May 18, 2026 / 11:01 AM EDT / CBS News Add CBS News on Google Bankruptcy may help protect your Social Security benefits from garnishment, but only under the right circumstances. Douglas Sacha/Getty Images Millions of older Americans are carrying debt into retirement — and for many of these retirees, the monthly Social Security benefits they receive each month are also their primary source of income. Relying on fixed retirement income to cover essentials can be tough, as the average retiree only receives about $2,000 per month right now, despite inflation driving up the cost of nearly everything. And, that's particularly true for those retirees who are carrying high-rate debt, as credit card balances, medical debt or personal loan obligations add even more strain to the budget.What's even more concerning, though, is that federal benefits aren't always fully shielded from collection efforts. While many people assume Social Security income is untouchable, certain types of debt can still trigger garnishment or offset actions against those benefits, reducing retirees' benefits by as much as 15%, depending on the circumstances. That, in turn, can create a confusing and stressful situation for borrowers who are already struggling to keep up.When that happens, many people reach for th...