Which debts can't be garnished from your Social Security? Here are 4 to know.

MoneyWatch: Managing Your Money Which debts can't be garnished from your Social Security? Here are 4 to know. 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 7, 2026 / 2:09 PM EDT / CBS News Add CBS News on Google Social Security benefits receive broad federal protections from creditors, but not all debt is handled the same way. Douglas Sacha/Getty Images Older Americans are carrying more debt into retirement than any previous generation. That alone is a problem, as high-rate debt can quickly eat away at a fixed retirement budget and cause major issues with your retirement savings. That's hardly the only problem retirees are facing right now, though. Social Security income has also become less of a supplement and more of a necessity for many retirees, and a missed debt payment or two can suddenly feel much more serious when your primary income source comes from the federal government. At the same time, debt collection activity has seen an uptick in recent years. Borrowers across the board are dealing with higher borrowing costs, persistent inflation pressures and tighter household budgets, all while many debt collectors continue pursuing unpaid balances through avenues like lawsuits, wage garnishments and bank account levies. That combination has left some retirees questioning whether their Social Security checks are truly protected if they're sued over their unpaid debt.While federal law offers important...