Student loan default and wage garnishment in Washington

Short answer: If your federal student loans are in default, the U.S. Department of Education can garnish your wages in Washington through administrative wage garnishment (AWG), generally up to 15% of disposable pay, without a court order. You get a written notice at least 30 days before it starts and the right to a hearing. This is a federal rule. Washington laws on garnishment for other debts can differ, and we don't summarize them here.

Last verified November 5, 2026 · PSLFCheck Editorial

Federal AWG rules that apply in Washington

Amount: generally up to 15% of disposable pay. Federal law also protects a minimum amount of weekly pay (see DOL's Title III guidance).
Notice: written notice at least 30 days before garnishment begins.
Hearing: you can request a hearing to dispute the debt or claim financial hardship.
Other federal collection: tax refund and some federal benefit offsets are also possible on defaulted federal loans.

Washington state garnishment rules

Wage-garnishment limits for other debts, such as credit cards, medical bills, or private student loans collected through a court judgment, are set partly by state law and vary by state. We haven't verified Washington's statute for this page, so we don't quote a percentage. Check the Washington attorney general, state courts, or state labor department website, or talk to a legal aid office.

How to get out of default in Washington

Loan rehabilitation: make 9 voluntary, reasonable, affordable monthly payments within 10 months. This removes the default record from your credit history. Garnishment can stop after you make the required payments.
Direct Consolidation: consolidate into a new Direct Consolidation Loan through studentaid.gov and repay under an eligible plan, such as RAP. Check the rules first, because consolidating after July 1, 2026 can affect which plans you can use.
Pay in full, if you can.

Full guide: how to get out of student loan default. Estimate a post-default payment with the RAP calculator and see your forgiveness paths with the forgiveness checker.

Public service workers in Washington

After you leave default, payments can count toward PSLF again. See PSLF in Washington.

This page is general information, not legal advice. PSLFCheck is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education.

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FAQ

How much can my wages be garnished for federal student loans in Washington?

For defaulted federal student loans, the U.S. Department of Education can use administrative wage garnishment (AWG) without a court order, generally up to 15% of your disposable pay. This federal rule applies the same way in Washington as in every other state.

Do Washington wage-garnishment laws limit federal student loan garnishment?

Federal AWG for student loans is set by federal law (20 U.S.C. 1095a). Washington rules on garnishment for other debts, such as court judgments, can differ. Check the Washington attorney general or state labor department for state rules on other debts.

How do I stop student loan wage garnishment?

Contact the Default Resolution Group or the loan holder on your notice, request a hearing if you dispute the debt or face financial hardship, and start loan rehabilitation or Direct Consolidation to get out of default.

Can defaulted loans still qualify for forgiveness?

Payments made while a loan is in default do not count toward PSLF or IDR forgiveness. Getting out of default first, through rehabilitation or consolidation, lets you start qualifying payments again.

Sources

Collections: administrative wage garnishment — studentaid.gov — accessed November 5, 2026
20 U.S.C. 1095a — Wage garnishment requirement (Cornell LII) — accessed November 5, 2026
34 CFR 34 — Administrative wage garnishment (eCFR) — accessed November 5, 2026
Getting out of default — studentaid.gov — accessed November 5, 2026
Collections on defaulted loans — studentaid.gov — accessed November 5, 2026
Default Resolution Group — myeddebt.ed.gov — accessed November 5, 2026
Avoiding student aid scams — studentaid.gov — accessed November 5, 2026
Direct Consolidation Loan — studentaid.gov — accessed November 5, 2026
Wage garnishment (Title III of CCPA) — U.S. Department of Labor — accessed November 5, 2026

Disclaimer: Not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or any loan servicer. Educational information, not financial or legal advice. Results are estimates. Confirm with studentaid.gov or your servicer. Published by PSLFCheck Editorial, AK Digital Marketing LLC.