P
Dallas,#2Consumer Suggestion
Tue, January 16, 2007
First the collection agency probably has tacked on a substantial amount to the debt they purchased. I would not be so quick to agree to that amount .... If ANY of that money was from social security go to legal aid NOW because under the law listed below - they can't touch social security benefits Federal law makes your Social Security benefits exempt from levy, garnishment, and assignment. 42 USC 407(a) states: "In general the right of any person to any future payment under this subchapter shall not be transferable or assignable . . . and none of the moneys paid or payable or rights existing under this subchapter shall be subject to execution, levy, attachment, garnishment, or other legal process, or to the operation of any bankruptcy or insolvency law." This means that even if a creditor or debt collection agency has a judgment against you, they cannot garnish your Social Security payments, nor can they take the money from you after it has been paid to you; for example, the portion of your bank account that is attributable to your social security benefits is exempt from levy or attachment.