42 U.S.C. § 407 — Assignment of benefits

This section protects certain benefit payments from being taken away. (a) In general. No one can transfer or assign their right to a future benefit payment under this subchapter, whether through a legal contract or any other arrangement. The benefit money, and the right to receive it, cannot be seized through execution, levy, attachment, garnishment, or any other legal process. Bankruptcy or insolvency law cannot reach it either. (b) Amendment of section. No other law, passed before, on, or after April 20, 1983, can be read to limit, override, or change this section — unless that other law specifically refers to this section by name. (c) Withholding of taxes. This section does not stop the government from withholding taxes from a benefit payment. That withholding is allowed if the person receiving the benefit, or their representative payee, has requested it in the way section 3402(p)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code requires.