Can Your Social Security Disability or SSI Benefits Be Reduced or Garnished?

How to prove you are disabled
and win disability benefits

Your Social Security disability or SSI benefits may be reduced for very specific reasons depending upon the disability program you are entitled to.

Let’s look at some reasons your Social Security or SSI disability benefits can be reduced. Both disability programs allow for reduced disability benefits to be paid if there is an overpayment of benefits. This is the only reason for benefit reduction common to both Social Security disability and SSI disability.

If you are receiving Social Security disability, there are other reasons your disability benefits may be reduced. Social Security allows SSDI benefits to be garnished for child support (both present and arrears), a valid court order of victim restitution, alimony, money owed to the IRS, and other unpaid government loans or debts. However, Social Security does not allow creditors to garnish your Social Security disability benefits.

In 1991, the federal government amended the garnishment guidelines to preclude levying or garnishment of SSI disability benefits. SSI is a need based disability benefit so there can be no levy or garnishment against it.

While SSI cannot be garnished for any of the above-mentioned reasons, it can be reduced for living arrangement changes.

The SSI disability program considers a beneficiary’s living arrangement when determining their monthly disability benefit amount. If the beneficiary is able to pay their fair share of the household bills that pertain to the home in which they live, they may receive the full SSI disability monthly benefit amount. However, if their situation changes so that they are not longer paying their fair share of the monthly bills, their SSI disability benefits will be reduced.

Fair share of household expenses (rent, mortgage, utilities) means that the beneficiary is paying the same amount of the expenses as other members of the household. Also, an SSI disability beneficiary may receive reduced disability benefits if they are receiving inancial help from an outside source (i.e. parents, family members, church, friends, etc.).

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Topics and Questions

Will Work Cause You To Lose Your Disability Benefits?

Can I Get Disability If I Was Paid Under the Table?

Social Security Disability Advice from the Wrong Sources

Advice to Win Social Security Disability and SSI Benefit Claims

Applying for disability benefits in Illinois

How much time are you given to request your Social Security Disability Hearing?

The SSD, Social Security Disability Date of Application

How is my social security disability benefit calculated ?

The Social Security Medicare 24 Month Waiting Period

How long will it usually take to get a decision on a disability claim?

Should you get a Statement from a Personal Physician for your SSD or SSI Disability Case?

Social Security Medical Exam - the purpose

If Social Security Turns Down My Case Can I apply For Disability A Second Time?

Receiving a Social Security Disability Award Letter

How do I check the status of my Social Security disability claim ?

How Often Does Social Security Disability Review Cases?

Social Security Disability, SSI Claim Decisions For Physical Problems and Medical Exams

The Social Security Disability Five Month Waiting Period

How is SSI different from Social Security Disability?

Will Social Security Disability Pay for X-rays or an MRI?

Social Security Disability SSI and the Onset Date

Vocational expert at a disability hearing - what is this

Should I List My Past Depression Medications on My Social Security Disability Application?

How do I apply for a Social Security disability widow’s claim ?

How much does a Social Security disability attorney get paid ?

How Long Do I Get To Keep My Social Security Disability or SSI Benefits?

Social Security Disability SSI - Retroactive Benefits Vs Back Pay Benefits

Disability Hearings - Information on the Social Security Hearing Process

Do I Have A Good Chance Of Winning Social Security Disability On Appeal?

Medical Disability- How does Social Security view your work and medical records

What is the Chance of Winning an SSA appeal for disability?

I Need To Apply For SSI or SSD But I Do Not Know Where to Start?

The Social Security Disability SSI Application Process

Applying for disability benefits in Maryland

Will Coronary Artery Heart Disease qualify you for disability?

What does it mean if Social Security sends you to a Psychiatrist?

Hiring a Qualified Disability Lawyer in Minnesota

Can you be denied for SSDI or SSI disability if social security cannot find your medical records?

Social Security Disability Appeal Deadlines Are Always 60 Days

SSD and SSI are Federal Programs

The title II Social Security Disability and title 16 SSI Disability programs operate under federal guidelines and, therefore, the program requirements--medical and non-medical--apply to all states:

Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming

Recent approval and denial statistics for various states can be viewed here:

Social Security Disability, SSI Approval and Denial Statistics by state

Special Section: Disability Lawyers and unnecessary claim denials