Creditors Garnishing Protected Funds

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· To collect overdue federal tax debts by levying up to 15 percent of each monthly payment until the debt is paid.

The Social Security Administration recommends that if your benefits have been taken from your bank account or a creditor tries to garnish your Social Security check, inform those involved that unless one of the five conditions applies, your benefits cannot be garnished. And, if needed, seek legal assistance.

There may not be a clear villain in this situation, but there are definite victims. Banks shouldn't be forced to snatch money from the accounts of people just getting by on government payments.

Creditors have a right to collect what they are owed, but it's only humane to leave people with enough money to cover their basic necessities. The powers that be need to move quickly to fix this problem.

· On the air: Michelle Singletary discusses personal finance Tuesdays on NPR's "Day to Day" program and online athttp://www.npr.org.

· By mail: Readers can write to her at The Washington Post, 1150 15th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20071.

· By e-mail:singletarym@washpost.com.

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