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S. 5456Senate119th Congress (2025-2027)In Committee

Stop Social Security Garnishment Act of 2026

A bill to prohibit the Secretary of Education from garnishing social security payments from individuals in default on their Federal student loans.

Sponsored by Bernard SandersSen. Bernard Sanders (I-VT)
Introduced September 22, 2026

AI-Generated Summary

Updated September 29, 2026 at 5:22 AM UTC

The Stop Social Security Garnishment Act of 2026 would stop the Department of Education from taking (offsetting) Social Security benefits to collect on defaulted federal student loans. It applies to any borrower who is in default on a loan covered by the Higher Education Act and to the Social Security payments they receive. The bill adds a new prohibition to the existing law, overriding the current authority that allows such offsets.

Key Provisions

  • Amends the Higher Education Act to insert a new Section 493E that bars any offset of Social Security benefits for borrowers who default on federal student loans.
  • Specifically overrides the existing provision in Title 31 that permits garnishment of Social Security payments for debt collection.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action
SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Finance Committee

September 22, 2026

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

September 22, 2026

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Finance Committee

September 22, 2026

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued September 22, 2026

II

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 5456

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

September 22, 2026

Mr. Sanders (for himself, Ms. Warren, Mr. Markey, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Merkley, Mr. Padilla, Mr. Reed, Ms. Hirono, and Mrs. Gillibrand) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance

A BILL

To prohibit the Secretary of Education from garnishing social security payments from individuals in default on their Federal student loans.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Stop Social Security Garnishment Act of 2026.

2.

Prohibition on Social Security Offset

Part G of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1088 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 493D the following:

493E.

Prohibition on Social Security Offset

Notwithstanding section 3716(a) of title 31, United States Code, beginning on the date of enactment of the Stop Social Security Garnishment Act of 2026, any payments due to an individual under the Social Security Act shall not be subject to offset under section 3716(c)(3)(A)(i) of such title in the event of a default on a loan made, insured, or guaranteed under this title.

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