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Related: Culture Forums, Support ForumsI have a friend who is elderly and owes money in medical bills. If she quits paying them
(she truly can't afford it) can her social security check (wages) be garnished?
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I have a friend who is elderly and owes money in medical bills. If she quits paying them (Original Post)
nirvana555
Jun 2014
OP
The Velveteen Ocelot
(116,662 posts)1. No, only money owed to the federal government (e.g., taxes)
can be deducted from Social Security benefits.
PoliticAverse
(26,366 posts)2. No, see...
Leme
(1,092 posts)3. ah, be careful.. probably can be sued: lose house or such
mackerel
(4,412 posts)4. It depends on the type medical bills and it depends on if she is
collecting thru T2 or T16. See if she can schedule an appointment with a Social Security Disability Attorney to be sure.
treestar
(82,383 posts)5. No.
Social Security cannot be garnished.
Some states have other rules, too. Bank accounts or wages can't be garnished.
It is very hard to collect a debt. Very hard. Then there is bankruptcy for relief. People fail to understand that extending credit is the riskiest thing.
Sweet Freedom
(3,995 posts)6. Has she tried working with the medical facility?
Just checking because not paying her medical bills will be horrible for her credit (which may not matter to her, but just in case.)
If she asks, she may be able to get the amount owed reduced or be put on a payment plan.