Older adults with student debt at risk of losing some Social Security benefits

Tens of millions of older adults who’re behind on their pupil loans might quickly obtain a smaller Social Safety profit.

That was the warning from Democratic lawmakers, together with Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., in a latest letter to the Biden administration.

“When debtors are in collections, on common their Social Safety advantages are estimated to be decreased by $2,500 yearly,” the lawmakers wrote on March 19. “This generally is a devastating blow to those that depend on Social Safety as their major supply of earnings.”

The U.S. authorities has extraordinary assortment powers on federal money owed and it may well seize debtors’ tax refunds, wages and retirement advantages. Social Safety recipients can see as much as 15% of their profit decreased to pay again their defaulted pupil debt, which “can push beneficiaries nearer to — and even into — poverty,” the lawmakers wrote.

After the pandemic-era pause on pupil mortgage funds expired in October of final yr, the U.S. Division of Training mentioned it would not resume its assortment practices for 12 months.

Nonetheless, the lawmakers wrote, “we’re involved that debtors will face the acute penalties related to missed funds when protections expire in late 2024.”

They requested the Biden administration to supply a briefing on their efforts to deal with the problem by April 3.

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The U.S. Division of Training didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.

The federal government’s assortment practices with pupil mortgage debtors, together with the garnishment of wages and Social Safety advantages, is an space beneath evaluate, a supply aware of its plans instructed CNBC.

Excellent pupil debt has been rising amongst older folks. To that time, greater than 3.5 million People aged 60 and older had pupil debt in 2023, a six-fold enhance from 2004, in keeping with the lawmakers.

Client advocates say the federal government’s assortment actions are excessive.

“Many retirees want their Social Safety advantages to outlive,” mentioned greater training skilled Mark Kantrowitz.

Social Safety advantages represent almost all earnings for one-third of recipients over the age of 65, the lawmakers mentioned of their letter. The common verify for retired staff is $1,907 this yr, in keeping with the Social Safety Administration.

The garnishments imply older adults are sometimes “compelled to decide on between skipping meals or rationing drugs,” Kantrowitz mentioned. “It’s a morally bankrupt coverage.”