In general, debt collectors do not have the authority to garnish federal benefits. There are legal protections that protect federal benefits, such as social security, disability or veterans’ benefits, from being garnished by most creditors. However, there are exceptions for certain types of government debts, such as federal taxes, student loans or child support. In these cases, government agencies, such as the IRS, can obtain a court order to garnish federal benefits and collect outstanding debts.