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nirvana555

(448 posts) Sun Jun 8, 2014, 10:54 PM Jun 2014

1

I 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?

6 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

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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

No, only money owed to the federal government (e.g., taxes) The Velveteen Ocelot Jun 2014 #1

No, see... PoliticAverse Jun 2014 #2

ah, be careful.. probably can be sued: lose house or such Leme Jun 2014 #3

It depends on the type medical bills and it depends on if she is mackerel Jun 2014 #4

No. treestar Jun 2014 #5

Has she tried working with the medical facility? Sweet Freedom Jun 2014 #6

The Velveteen Ocelot

(115,686 posts)

1. No, only money owed to the federal government (e.g., taxes)

Reply to nirvana555 (Original post)

Sun Jun 8, 2014, 11:00 PM

Jun 2014

can be deducted from Social Security benefits.

PoliticAverse

(26,366 posts)

2. No, see...

Reply to nirvana555 (Original post)

Sun Jun 8, 2014, 11:04 PM

Jun 2014

http://www.socialsecurity.gov/OP_Home/handbook/handbook.01/handbook-0129.html
but especially:
http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/protections-social-security-funds-bank-accounts.html

Leme

(1,092 posts)

3. ah, be careful.. probably can be sued: lose house or such

Reply to nirvana555 (Original post)

Sun Jun 8, 2014, 11:39 PM

Jun 2014

mackerel

(4,412 posts)

4. It depends on the type medical bills and it depends on if she is

Reply to nirvana555 (Original post)

Mon Jun 9, 2014, 12:44 AM

Jun 2014

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.

Reply to nirvana555 (Original post)

Mon Jun 9, 2014, 01:19 AM

Jun 2014

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?

Reply to nirvana555 (Original post)

Mon Jun 9, 2014, 09:31 AM

Jun 2014

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.

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