US EditionOlder people in crosshairs as government restarts Social Security garnishment on student loans
- The Trump administration resumed collections on defaulted student loans in May 2025, including garnishing Social Security benefits across the U.S.
- This action followed a five-year payment pause ending in 2023, with the Education Department issuing 30-day notices to borrowers in default.
- Approximately 452,000 individuals who are 62 years or older have defaulted on their student loans and face Social Security garnishments, despite only $750 of these benefits being shielded from such collection.
- Christine Farro, a 73-year-old retired worker with $250,000 in decades-old loans, shows how some debtors sacrifice essentials and resort to drastic measures.
- Renewed collections create hardship concerns for older borrowers, who also struggle to get assistance from the Education Department amid reduced service access.
120 Articles
120 Articles
3 options for student-loan borrowers in default to protect their wages and Social Security
Student-loan borrowers in default could face wage and benefits garnishment. Shutterstock This summer, millions of student-loan borrowers could lose some of their wages and federal benefits if they don’t start making payments. They have options to avoid those consequences — but it won’t be easy. After President Donald Trump’s administration restarted collections on defaulted student loans on May 5, his Education Department said it sent notices to…
3 ways student-loan borrowers in default can avoid wage, Social Security garnishment: rehabilitation, consolidation, bankruptcy
Student-loan borrowers in default could face wage and benefits garnishment.ShutterstockThis summer, millions of defaulted student-loan borrowers could face wage and federal benefits garnishment.They have options to avoid those consequences, but some routes can take longer than others.Options include loan consolidation, loan rehabilitation, and bankruptcy.This summer, millions of student-loan borrowers could lose some of their wages and federal b…
Trump admin announces certain Social Security beneficiaries will face 15% cuts in June
Starting next month, Social Security beneficiaries who have fallen behind on their student loan payments face up to 15% garnishment of their payments.Earlier this month, the Trump administration announced student loan borrowers in default will be once again subject to the long-halted Treasury Offset Program (TOP).
Seniors struggle to repay longtime student loan debt
NEW YORK — Christine Farro has cut back on the presents she sends her grandchildren on their birthdays, and she’s put off taking two cats and a dog for their shots. All her clothes come from thrift stores and most…
What to know about the U.S. House GOP’s student loan overhaul • Daily Montanan
The U.S. Capitol pictured on March 25, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Shauneen Miranda/States Newsroom) WASHINGTON — Students and families could see significant changes to how student loans are repaid as well as cuts to federal student aid as congressional Republicans look to slash billions of dollars in federal spending to offset the cost of President Donald Trump’s sweeping agenda. Republicans are using the complex reconciliation process …
For these folks with student loan debt, US may seize Social Security benefits
Christine Farro has cut back on the presents she sends her grandchildren on their birthdays, and she’s put off taking two cats and a dog for their shots. All her clothes come from thrift stores and most of her vegetables come from her garden. At 73, she has cut her costs as much as she can to live on a tight budget.
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