E Garnishments and Overpayments

 

 

Revised 05/26/2026

 

Policy

A person’s gross income is used to determine eligibility and share of cost even when a garnishment or overpayment is being deducted from the income. 

Exception for Overpayments:

Amounts withheld to recover a prior overpayment are excluded from countable income when both of the following apply:

 

When both bullets apply, the income is counted based on the gross income received minus the overpayment amount, to prevent counting income that was already considered for previous eligibility.


When a customer reports that his or her income is being garnished, the customer is asked to contact the source of the garnishment. The source may be willing to reduce or waive the garnishment.
 

See Examples - Garnishments and Overpayments

One common type of garnishment is made by the IRS to collect a tax penalty. VA also places a garnishment to recover an overpayment. Both IRS and VA have processes for waiving or deferring garnishments.

See Lifting IRS Garnishments and VA Overpayments when a customer’s income is reduced for one of these reasons.

Definitions

Term

Definition

Garnishment

A process that directs money or property of a third party be seized to satisfy a debt owed by a debtor to a creditor.

Overpayment

Payments of income made in excess of the sum due.

 

Legal Authority

Program

Legal Authorities

ALTCS

SSI-MAO

MSP

FTW

20 CFR 416.1123

Caretaker Relative

Pregnant Woman

Child

Adult

KidsCare

42 CFR 435.603

R9-22-1421