4 things retirees should do immediately after receiving a garnishment notice

MoneyWatch: Managing Your Money 4 things retirees should do immediately after receiving a garnishment notice 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 14, 2026 / 12:46 PM EDT / CBS News Add CBS News on Google Garnishment can cause major issues, so retirees need to know how to protect the benefits and income they rely on. Getty Images/iStockphoto Retirees across the country are facing growing financial pressure this year as borrowing costs remain elevated and inflation continues to rise, putting more strain on those with fixed incomes. And, for the older Americans who are carrying unpaid credit card balances, medical debt or personal loans into retirement, that pressure can escalate quickly, especially if they fall seriously behind on payments, leading the collection efforts to shift from phone calls and letters to more aggressive action.One of the most stressful things that can occur in that process, though, is receiving a garnishment notice. While consumer debt collectors are largely prohibited from garnishing Social Security benefits, other types of income can be taken directly with just an administrative or court order, whether you owe money for high-rate credit card debt, unpaid taxes, federal student loans, child support or another qualifying debt.But while receiving a garnishment notice can feel overwhelming, retirees may have more options than they realize. The steps taken in the hours and days af...