SC Department Of Education taking 15% from pay???

Question

A girlfriend of mine..is on food stamps and welfare(the state pays for her daycare, i think that's it)...she has two children and is a single mom. he works 50-60 hours a week to make ends meet. Now the department of Education(SC) is taking 15% of her paycheck..She tried to set up a payment program with them..showed them her bills etc and they said NO..We'll take the money from your paycheck.

Can they do that?? Is there any law that protects her???

she only owes them $2,000...but taking 15% puts her in a really tight spot..she barely makes enough to make her bills? thanks in advance..i have no clue about any of this, i just dont think it seems fair.

Answer 1

Not enough information.  It sounds like your girlfriend had this debt hanging out there for a long time and didn't pay, so the state garnished her wages.  If that happened, there's really nothing that can be done.  The rules for debts owed to the state and Federal governments are much different than those for debts owed to private creditors -- the state and Club Fed WILL get their money one way or another, and they're not obligated to give anyone a payment plan.  Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but unless she could get an attorney to take her case pro bono (for free), she's probably stuck.