Can wage garnishment increase over time?

MoneyWatch: Managing Your Money Can wage garnishment increase over time? We may receive commissions from some links to products on this page. Promotions are subject to availability and retailer terms. .chip { background-image: url('/fly/bundles/cbsnewscore/images/chip-bgd/chip-bgd-moneywatch.jpg'); } By Angelica Leicht Angelica Leicht Senior Editor, Managing Your Money Angelica Leicht is the senior editor for the Managing Your Money section for CBSNews.com, where she writes and edits articles on a range of personal finance topics. Angelica previously held editing roles at The Simple Dollar, Interest, HousingWire and other financial publications. Read Full Bio Angelica Leicht April 28, 2026 / 10:35 AM EDT / CBS News Add CBS News on Google Wage garnishment can be a big drain on your income, so it's important to handle the issue before it compounds. Getty Images/iStockphoto Serious financial trouble generally doesn't arrive all at once. It builds quietly, especially in the current economic landscape. With debt sitting at record highs and elevated rates continuing to drive up the costs of borrowing, it's easy to fall behind and miss what you think will be just one payment. But that missed payment turns into a late notice, and then becomes multiple missed payments followed by collections calls, and eventually, for some, a court judgment that allows a creditor to reach directly into your paycheck to cover what's owed. That process is known as wage garnishment, and by the time the garnishment process begins, the situation has often been unfolding for months or even years prior. That's part of what makes garnishment so difficult to navigate. And, unlike a credit card bill or loan payment that you can adjust or delay, this is money removed from your paycheck before you ever see it. That, in turn, can reshape your budget overnight, leaving little room to adapt, which can be particularly tough at a time when everyday expenses are already stretching budgets thinner.One of the most misunderstood aspects of wage garnishment, though, is how fixed it really is. Many assume that once the amount is set, it stays that way until the debt is paid off. But can the amount taken from your wages shift over time instead and potentially even increase? That's what we'll explore below.Find out how to get rid of your high-rate debt before it compounds now.Can wage garnishment increase over time?Wage garnishment isn't necessarily static. While federal law — specifically the Consumer Credit Protection Act — sets limits on how much of your disposable earnings can be taken (generally up to 25% for most consumer debts), several factors can cause the actual garnishment amount to rise over time, including the following:Your income increases. If you receive a raise, work more hours or take on additional income, your disposable earnings rise, and so can the garnished amount. Because many garnishments are calculated as a percentage of disposable income, higher earnings can lead to a larger dollar amount being withheld, even if the percentage stays the same.Multiple garnishments are added. If more than one creditor obtains a court judgment against you, additional garnishment orders may be layered on top of the first one. While there are limits to prevent excessive withholding, certain debts — like child support or federal tax debt — can take priority and increase the total amount being deducted from your paycheck. Interest and fees continue to accrue. Even after a garnishment…

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