I am recently divorced, and the credit card companies (2) are threatening to take me to court. Can they take my social security, my only source of income?

Certain types of social security payments are exempt from attachment for unsecured debt. But the rub here is once they are in your bank account they are commingled funds and the account is subject to attachment.

You need to inform your bank, if a judgment is awarded, that the only deposits to the account are exempt and any attempt to attach is illegal.