CCPA garnishment limits
How wage garnishment works in 2026
When a court orders wage garnishment, your employer must withhold a portion of your pay and send it to the creditor. The federal Consumer Credit Protection Act (CCPA) caps how much can be taken for consumer debts at 25% of disposable earnings, or the amount by which weekly disposable earnings exceed 30 times the federal minimum wage ($7.25 x 30 = $217.50), whichever is less.
Consumer debt vs. child support
The 25% limit applies to consumer debts like credit cards, medical bills, and personal loans. Child support and alimony have much higher limits: up to 50% to 65% of disposable earnings depending on whether you support another family and whether you are in arrears. Federal tax levies and student loan defaults also have their own rules outside the CCPA.
| Disposable weekly pay | Consumer max (25%) | Child support max (50%) | You keep |
|---|---|---|---|
| $400 | $100 | $200 | $300 / $200 |
| $700 | $175 | $350 | $525 / $350 |
| $1,000 | $250 | $500 | $750 / $500 |
| $1,500 | $375 | $750 | $1,125 / $750 |
Weekly disposable pay after taxes. Two "You keep" figures: left = consumer debt, right = child support at 50%.
State limits may protect more
When state and federal garnishment limits conflict, the lower limit applies. Texas, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and North Carolina severely restrict or prohibit wage garnishment for most consumer debts. Many other states cap garnishment at less than 25% or use higher minimum-wage multipliers. Always check your state's rules in addition to the federal limits shown here.
What to do if you are being garnished
Verify the court order is valid and the amount is correctly calculated. If it is too high, you can file a claim of exemption with the court. If garnishment pushes your income below the protected threshold, the employer must stop garnishing. For a broader view of your take-home after all deductions, use our paycheck calculator or take-home pay calculator.
Questions
Wage garnishment calculator FAQ
How much of my wages can be garnished?
Under the federal Consumer Credit Protection Act (CCPA), the maximum garnishment for consumer debts is the lesser of 25% of your disposable earnings or the amount by which your weekly disposable earnings exceed 30 times the federal minimum wage ($7.25 x 30 = $217.50 per week in 2026). If your disposable weekly income is below $217.50, nothing can be garnished.
What counts as disposable earnings for garnishment?
Disposable earnings are your gross pay minus legally required deductions — federal, state and local income taxes, Social Security, Medicare, and state unemployment insurance. Voluntary deductions like 401(k) contributions, health insurance premiums, and union dues are not subtracted from disposable earnings for garnishment purposes.
Are there different limits for child support garnishment?
Yes. Federal law allows up to 50% of disposable earnings if you are supporting a current spouse or child, or up to 60% if you are not. An additional 5% can be garnished if you are more than 12 weeks in arrears, bringing the maximum to 55% or 65% respectively. These limits are significantly higher than the 25% cap for consumer debts.
Can I be fired for wage garnishment?
Federal law prohibits firing an employee for a single garnishment. However, there is no federal protection against termination for two or more garnishments. Some states provide broader protections. Title III of the CCPA governs these employment protections.
Do state garnishment limits differ from federal?
Yes. Some states have lower garnishment limits than the federal maximum, which means less can be taken. A few states — Texas, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and North Carolina — severely limit or prohibit wage garnishment for most consumer debts. When state and federal limits conflict, the lower amount (more protective of the employee) applies.
- Sources: U.S. DOL — Title III CCPA wage garnishment limits · Federal minimum wage $7.25/hr (unchanged 2026) · State garnishment exemption statutes.
- 🔄 Last updated July 25, 2026 · Tax year 2026
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