When you accrue a lot of debt, debt collectors will do everything in their power — and, sometimes, even things they aren’t supposed to be in their power — to get the money from you. They will call you and send you letters. They may even try contacting family members to learn of your whereabouts. All told, it can amount to a very stressful time for the person who is in debt.
Debt collectors may also try to garnish your wages, thus hurting your ability to pay for basic bills and other financial factors in your life. But your wages aren’t the only asset that debt collectors may go after. They could also try to use your Social Security payments to clear some of your debt.
Now, this isn’t going to happen to every person who receives Social Security benefits and is in debt. Every situation is unique, which is a hallmark of bankruptcy. Every case will have circumstances that other people don’t have to deal with — and thus, it is impossible to make a blanket statement about Social Security and debt collectors.
But what we can say about being in debt is that it is a stressful and anxious time. The person who is carrying the debt wants to find a solution to their debt problem, and sometimes bankruptcy is their solution. No matter what answers they seek though, they will need some help to make their solution a reality. Consulting with an experienced bankruptcy attorney when you’re under financial duress can help you move past this tough time in your life and start a new chapter.
Source: Credit.com, “Can a Debt Collector Come After My Social Security?,” Gerri Detweiler, May 23, 2014