Wage Garnishment Calculator

Federal law under the Consumer Credit Protection Act limits ordinary creditor garnishment to the lesser of 25% of disposable earnings or the amount by which disposable earnings exceed 30 times the federal minimum wage ($7.25/hr) per pay period. Many states set lower caps: Texas, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina prohibit most wage garnishments entirely. The calculator applies the federal floor; always check your state law for the actual limit that applies.

Social Security benefits, Supplemental Security Income, veterans benefits, and federal student aid are fully exempt from most creditor garnishments under federal law. Workers compensation and unemployment benefits are typically exempt too. Some states add further protections for pension income, disability payments, or a higher minimum wage threshold. Even exempt funds can lose protection if commingled with non-exempt money in a bank account for too long.

Federal law (Title III of the CCPA) prohibits an employer from firing an employee because of a single garnishment. However, the federal law does not protect employees who have two or more separate garnishment orders. Several states provide broader protection and ban discharge for any number of garnishments. If you believe you were fired due to a garnishment, file a complaint with the Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division.

The most direct ways are: pay the debt in full to terminate the order; negotiate a payment plan or settlement with the creditor and ask the court to lift the garnishment; file a claim of exemption if protected income is being withheld in error; or file for bankruptcy, which triggers an automatic stay that immediately halts most garnishments. A consumer law attorney can identify which option saves the most money in your situation. This tool is a general estimate, not legal advice.