If you owe past due legal responsibilities, such as federal tax liabilities, child support, or student loans, your paycheck might be subjected to garnishment. However, in most cases, workers' compensation benefits are exempt from being garnished. Garnishment is overseen by federal and state laws. Garnishment can also be used by creditors to collect what is owed to them for things such as medical bills, past due credit card debt, and so forth. However, some kinds of pay do not permit garnishment. Workers' compensation is a form of payment that is usually exempt from any kind of garnishment for past due balances. There might be rare circumstances where state law allows garnishment from workers' compensation wages for special situations. What Cannot Be Garnished In most cases, unemployment benefits are also exempt from being garnished as are Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. Social Security and Social Security Disability benefits can be garnished for back federal taxes and for any owed child support, and in most cases, state public assistance cannot be garnished. Your workers' compensation attorney can help you with your workers' compensation benefits and can determine whether or not they could be subjected to garnishment for your past due bills. Because of the complexity of a workers' compensation claim, you should seek the help of a workers' comp lawyer who will not only file your claim but help you get your claim on track so you can get the benefits that you deserve. Workers' compensation benefits include medical benefits, short-term disability and if necessary, long-term disability. How To Determine Which Funds Can Be Garnished State and federal laws oversee debt collection practices and determine which forms of payment can be garnished to pay any past due debts. An attorney can help you with these situations and determine if your workers' compensation benefits can be garnished. If certain protocol needs to be followed to prevent garnishment, your attorney can help you file the proper documentation and ensure your rights and finances are protected. Without the help of a lawyer, your claim might be denied or you might get all of the benefits that you are entitled to receive for your work-related condition. Consult With A Workers' Compensation Attorney If you have suffered an injury while on the job or if you have been diagnosed with a work-related illness, you should consult with a workers' compensation lawyer. The claims process can be challenging, and your odds of a favorable outcome are much better with the help of experienced legal counsel. In most cases, attorneys for workers' comp claims will work on a contingency basis. They will advance any fees and those fees will be deducted from your settlement along with the agreed percentage of your settlement that will be paid to the attorney. You have nothing to lose, so be sure to schedule a free case evaluation with a work accident lawyer today so you can get your claim on track. A strict statute of limitations does apply. Additional Resources Who Pays for a Workers’ Compensation Attorney? What Damages Can I Receive For My Claim?
