Bernie Sanders proposes bill to protect Social Security from student loan garnishment

Senator Bernie Sanders, alongside Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, has introduced the ‘Stop Social Security Garnishment Act’. The proposed legislation aims to prohibit the Treasury from seizing Social Security payments, including Social Security Disability Insurance, to satisfy defaulted federal student loan obligations.

The bill specifically targets older adults and borrowers with disabilities to prevent involuntary collections that could compromise their ability to afford essential costs such as healthcare, food, and housing. This comes amid rising delinquency rates; data from the Education Department shows approximately 9.5 million borrowers were in default as of March, and the New York Federal Reserve reported student-loan delinquencies rose to 10.6% in the second quarter of 2026.

According to Education Department data, roughly 9.6 million student loan borrowers are aged 50 or older, carrying nearly $457 billion in outstanding debt as of the second quarter. The legislative effort follows previous administrative pauses on involuntary collections and changes to federal repayment options.