NEWS: Sanders to Introduce Bill to Stop Trump from Garnishing Social Security Checks of Seniors with Student Debt

BURLINGTON, Vt., Aug. 17 - Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, announced he will introduce the Stop Social Security Garnishment Act - legislation to prevent seniors from having their Social Security payments withheld by the government to pay back decades-old student loan debt.

Joining Sanders as cosponsors on this legislation are Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Ed Markey (D-Mass.).

"As a result of Trump's disastrous cuts to education, an increasing number of seniors are in danger of having their Social Security checks garnished to pay back student loans they took out decades ago. That is beyond unacceptable," Sanders said. "In the richest country in the history of the world, no senior should have their Social Security payments taken away from them to pay back student debt. This is especially true when seniors throughout the country already cannot afford the skyrocketing price of healthcare, prescription drugs, groceries and housing. Congress must pass this legislation."

The Stop Social Security Garnishment Act comes amid a record-breaking student loan default crisis that has been made worse by Trump's so-called "Big Beautiful Bill," which made the largest cuts to education in history. Over nine million Americans are now in default on their student loans. This means nearly 1 in 4 student loan borrowers cannot pay back their loans and are at risk of having their wages or Social Security payments seized to pay back their outstanding student debt.

More than 1 in 3 Social Security recipients with student loans are reliant on their Social Security payments to make ends meet. Half of Social Security recipients that had a Social Security check garnished because of a defaulted student loan reported skipping a doctor's visit or reported being unable to obtain a prescription they needed, due to cost.

The Stop Social Security Garnishment Act of 2026 will put an end to this absurdity and ensure no Social Security payments are taken away from older adults or individuals with disabilities due to student loan debt. The bill:

• Prohibits the federal government from garnishing any Social Security payments, including Social Security Disability Insurance, from older adults and individuals with disabilities to pay back student load debt,
• Protects older adults against unnecessary forced collections, and
• Ensures older adults retain access to their Social Security payments to access vital healthcare, medicine, and groceries without fear of having access to those basic needs disrupted due to a student loan in default.

This legislation is endorsed by organizations including the American Federation of Teachers, Protect Borrowers, Student Debt Crisis Center, American Association of University Women, Debt Collective, Social Security Works, and the Alliance for Retired Americans.

Read the bill here.

Read a summary here.

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