What should I do if my Social Security payments are withheld?

If your Social Security benefits are withheld or garnished, you should contact an attorney or a representative of the court that issued the legal order mandating such garnishment, states the Social Security Administration. Benefits may be withheld to enforce legal obligations pertaining to child support, alimony and other debts.

The Department of the Treasury can also mandate garnishments from Social Security benefits for overdue federal tax debts, according to the Social Security Administration. Non-tax debts can be garnished from benefits under powers granted by the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996. Like with legal orders, the Social Security Administration does not hear appeals to such garnishments, and the original creditor must be contacted.