What is Administrative Wage Garnishment (AWG) and how much of my pay can be garnished?

The Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-134), section 31001(o)(1), authorizes Social Security to administer AWG on debtors who owe money to Social Security.

Social Security can order your employer to deduct up to 15% of your disposable pay, each pay period. Disposable pay means your compensation after deductions such as health insurance premiums, Federal, state, and local taxes. You are entitled to keep an amount of disposable pay equal to at least 30 times the Federal minimum wage per week. If your pay is being garnished for other debts, your total garnishments will not exceed 25 percent of your disposable pay.

You will receive a 60-day pre-garnishment notice, which may also inform you about the Treasury Offset Program and reporting your debt to credit bureaus, if applicable. The notice will also include your due process rights on AWG.