Supplemental Security Income payments cannot be levied or garnished. In general, federal law protects Social Security benefits from assignment, levy, or garnishment. However, there are five exceptions in which Social Security benefits may be garnished. The federal government can garnish Social Security benefits to enforce child support or alimony obligations. They may also collect unpaid Federal taxes from Social Security benefits. Other Federal agencies can garnish money from your Social Security benefits to pay a non-tax debt owed to that agency according to the Debt Collection Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-134). Finally, certain civil penalties allow for the collection of money from benefits to satisfy debts owed under the Mandatory Victim Restitution Act.
However, creditors other than the federal government may not garnish your Social Security benefits. For example, credit card companies, mortgage companies or auto loan creditors cannot garnish your Social Security benefits.