Student Loan Defaults Could Slash Your Social Security—Here’s How to Stop It!

Hey, I wanted to share something important that’s coming up and could really affect a lot of people, especially seniors who rely on Social Security.

So, if you or someone you know has student loans that haven’t been paid back—like, seriously behind or “in default”—the government can now start taking money straight out of Social Security checks to cover those debts. They can take up to 15% before other things like Medicare come out.

Now here’s the thing: by law, you have to be left with at least $750 a month after they take their cut. That might have sounded fair back when this rule was made decades ago, but in today’s world? $750 a month is really tight. Like, some people are saying they’re having to choose between buying food or medicine.

There are actually about 450,000 older Americans who are in this situation right now — they’re getting Social Security but are behind on their student loans. For many, that Social Security check is their only source of income, so losing part of it can be devastating.

But don’t worry, it’s not all doom and gloom. There are ways to fight back. You can make a plan to catch up on payments, or roll your loans into something more manageable. And if you’re really struggling, you can apply to have the garnishment reduced or stopped by showing you’re facing hardship.

The key is to not ignore it. If this could affect you or someone you care about, talk to your loan provider or find a nonprofit that helps with this stuff. They can walk you through your options.

I know this is stressful news, but you’re not alone — and there’s help if you reach out. Just wanted to make sure you knew what’s going on so you can protect yourself or your loved ones.