Can Credit Card Debt be garnished from Social Security?

[126coupe]

My mother in laws husband passed away last week, and they have 5K in high interest Credit Card debt. She is pretty much broke living off SS and $100.00 per month from Pennys. She is an 83 year old women, who does not drive and is homebound.
She lives in Spokane, Wa. Please tell me the CC Co. cant attach her Social Security.

[JeffO]

Have her declare bankruptcy. Clear the debt and move on. In my opinion not the right thing but she has the right to live worry free.

[Dueller]

No. But once it goes into her bank account they can possibly garnish the bank acct. Don't waste money on a bankruptcy ($750-1000). Call the credit card company and tell them she'll pay them $750 to settle in full or she can pay it to a bankruptcy atty. Or ignore them.

[126coupe]

Originally Posted by JeffO

Have her declare bankruptcy. Clear the debt and move on. In my opinion not the right thing but she has the right to live worry free.

They did a BK a few years back.

[Dueller]

Tell her to do nothing until she gets sued. likely won't happen in her lifetime.

[126coupe]

Originally Posted by Dueller

Tell her to do nothing until she gets sued. likely won't happen in her lifetime.

I just dont want her being bothered. Maybe change her phone# and have addressed changed, mmmmmmm

[Dueller]

Originally Posted by Minkoff

I just dont want her being bothered. Maybe change her phone# and have addressed changed, mmmmmmm

Well ya got two choices: A cease and desist letter to the credit card company/collections dept or settle with them. They are very good at skip tracing changed phone #'s/ addresses.

[Dixie]

Here's a thought....

• You pay off the 5k balance.
• MIL is happy.
• You’re happy.
• The bank's happy.

win-win-win.



(That is unless there’s fraud involved and your father and widowed MIL didn’t make the chares...)

[gchappel]

Sorry, but somebody is going to pay, or write off, $5000.
How did they get credit if they declared Bankruptcy just a few years ago?
I don't mean to be cruel, but her age really is not an immediate issue here. Owing $5000 is the issue. She will not be able to hide. I would suspect you can delay things for a while, but either pay it off or declare BK, again. Unless she has no assets, they will get their money from her, or from her estate. Sorry, but they deserve to get their money. Two BK's in a couple of years is out of hand.
Gary