Federal Benefits Offsets

Federal benefits offsets are another tool the government can use to collect federal student loans.  The government can take certain Social Security benefits, benefits under Part B of the Black Lung Act, and some Railroad Retirement benefits to collect government student loans. Just as with other types of student loan collection, there is no time limit on Social Security offsets, according to a 2005 Supreme Court Case. (Lockhart v. U.S., 126 S. Ct. 699 (2005)).

The government cannot take any amounts you get below $9,000/year or $750/month. No more than 15% of your total benefit can be offset.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) cannot be taken. This is very important because collection agencies will sometimes falsely claim that they can take SSI. Other benefits that the law says cannot be taken include Veterans Benefits and Benefits under Part C of the Black Lung Law.

Challenging Federal Benefits Offsets

The offset process is managed by the Bureau of the Fiscal Service of the Department of Treasury. Before referring a debt to FMS for collection, the Department of Education must provide you with a notice.

You must request a review within 20 days of receiving a notice of offset or if you request documents to review, 15 days after you receive those documents. You have the right to first review and copy relevant documents. It is a good idea to make this request so that you know what is in your file. You may request an oral hearing instead of a written review, but you must send an explanation of why you think a written review is inadequate. As with other types of collection, you have the right to set up a repayment plan with your loan holder prior to offset. You may exercise these rights even after the time deadlines, but in these circumstances, offset will not be delayed pending a resolution of your objections.

You may also request a reduction or suspension of offset because of hardship. It is in the agency’s discretion whether to grant this.

The Department of Education requires borrowers to submit the following documents before they will review a request for a hardship reduction:

• The notification of offset;
• The notification letter showing the amount of federal benefit;
• Proof of yearly income;
• A completed financial statement that must be returned to the Department of Education or guaranty agency within ten days. If the situation is an emergency, you may submit equivalent information such as an eviction notice or a court order of foreclosure in writing with the completed financial statement.
• A letter explaining the exceptional circumstances that caused the financial hardship along with any other supporting documents.

**You should check to make sure this is still Department policy.

The Department advises borrowers with hardships to call and request an immediate suspension of offset, to be followed later by documentation.  Borrowers may not be required to submit all of the documentation listed above in order to obtain a suspension.

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, “Snapshot of Older Consumers and Student Loan Debt” (Jan. 2017)

The financial statement form that borrowers should use to request hardship suspension of offset depends on the type of Federal payment being offset. The financial statement form for administrative wage garnishment (AWG) is slightly different than the form for offset, but the Department has said that it will accept the garnishment form from a borrower for SSA offset suspension purposes. The Department has said that it prefers this Request to Stop or Reduce Offset of Social Security Benefits for borrowers seeking suspension of Social Security offset.