To garnish is to obtain a court order directing a party holding funds (such as a bank) or about to pay wages (such as an employer) to an alleged debtor to set that money aside until the court determines (decides) how much the debtor owes to the creditor.
While many people have an understanding of garnished wages as it pertains to collecting late child support and alimony payments, there are in fact several other instances when funds are garnished. Some cases, involve what is known as an "administrative offset;" it is when the Department of Treasury through the Treasury Offset Program (TOP) or the Federal Tax Refund Offset Program, withhold a person’s funds or benefits to pay off debt.
Receiving An Administrative Offset Notice

Individuals who receive an offset notice have sixty days from the date of the notice (not when it's received) to object to the action, according to the article. If one’s defensive measures do not prove fruitful, be advised that offsets are limited to an amount that is no greater than 15% of your total benefits.
Anyone who receives an Administrative Offset Notice must act quickly to plead their case, especially if the notice is in error. Those who do in fact owe money, have the option to pay it off within the sixty-days, request a hardship reduction, or negotiate a payment plan.
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