[margaret174]

I am 72, on Social Security plus a moderate City Retirement pension (local government, Washington state). My husband is 57, disabled, on Social Security Disability and has a small pension from the San Diego Zoo. If we are unable to pay one or more credit cards, can those CC companies, or collection companies, attach our Social Secuity or our pensions?

Also, if the credit cards are not attached to our bank where our funds go direct deposit, can those unsecured debt or collection companies attach our bank account?

[Wondergirl]

Check this thread to see if anything fits your situation.

https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/credit...me-319415.html

We have financial and legal experts on this site who will eventually see your question and offer advice.

[stevetcg]

Your Social Security is protected but in most cases your pension is not and can be garnished.

The debt holder will need to go to court to obtain a judgement against you in order to lien property/accounts or get a garnishment order. Once they have the judgment, they will go after your account. If your social security goes into that account, they will take it. Unfortunately, although SSI is protected, once it enters a bank account it becomes comingled funds. Best open a separate account specifically for social security.

However, if you work with the credit card company, they will often be able to keep things from going that far.

[ScottGem]

As Steve indicated, once your SSI is deposited, it becomes fair game. You may be able to avoid attachment by only depositing the exempt income into an account and then informing your bank that only exempt income is being deposited. You don't have to do this until a judgement becomes imminent since they can't attach the account without one.