In Oregon, a creditor with a money judgment generally cannot take more than 25% of your disposable (take-home) wages in a pay period — and even that 25% applies only to the part of your pay above a protected weekly floor set by state law (ORS 18.385). Oregon protects more of your paycheck than the bare federal minimum: the federal Consumer Credit Protection Act shields wages up to 30 times the federal minimum wage ($7.25 × 30 = $217.50 per week), while Oregon’s statute uses a higher fixed dollar floor. The garnishment is limited to whichever is less: 25% of your disposable earnings, or the amount by which your weekly disposable earnings exceed Oregon’s statutory protected amount. Below those thresholds, an ordinary creditor gets nothing.
“Disposable earnings” means what is left after legally required deductions — federal and state income tax withholding, Social Security and Medicare, and similar mandatory amounts. It is not the same as gross pay, and it does not subtract voluntary deductions like a 401(k) contribution or health-insurance premium.
For each pay period, the garnishable amount is the smaller of these two numbers:
- 25% of your disposable earnings for that period; or
- the amount your disposable earnings exceed Oregon’s protected weekly minimum (prorated for two-week, half-month, or monthly pay periods).
Oregon’s protected weekly floor is set in ORS 18.385. As of 2026 the statute protects roughly $254 for a one-week pay period, with proportionally larger protected amounts for longer pay periods (about $509 for two weeks, $545 for a half-month, and $1,090 for a month). Because these figures are periodically updated by the Legislature, confirm the current protected amounts against the live text of ORS 18.385 or the wage-exemption calculation form that comes with the garnishment before you rely on a specific number. The practical takeaway is unchanged: if your disposable pay is at or below the protected floor, a regular creditor cannot garnish your wages at all, and above it they are capped at 25%.
How Oregon compares to the federal rule
Federal law (the Consumer Credit Protection Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1673) sets a national ceiling of 25% of disposable earnings or the excess over 30× the federal minimum wage, whichever is less. States are free to protect more, and Oregon does so by using a dollar floor that sits above the federal 30×-minimum-wage figure. A creditor in Oregon must honor whichever rule leaves more money in your pocket. A handful of states (such as Texas, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina) go further and bar wage garnishment for most ordinary consumer debts entirely — Oregon is not one of those states, so credit-card, medical, and similar judgment debts can be garnished here within the limits above.
Income that is exempt no matter what
Some income is protected even after it lands in your bank account. Under Oregon’s exemption statutes (ORS 18.345 and 18.348) and federal law, the following generally cannot be reached by ordinary creditors:
- Social Security and SSI benefits;
- Veterans’ benefits and most federal disability payments;
- Unemployment compensation and workers’ compensation;
- Public assistance such as TANF and SNAP (food benefits);
- Most pension and retirement plan funds, including ERISA-qualified plans and IRAs within statutory limits;
- Spousal and child support you receive for the benefit of a child.
These exemptions do not enforce themselves automatically in every situation. If exempt money has been frozen in a bank account, you typically must assert the exemption to get it released. Federal banking rules require banks to protect a look-back amount of directly deposited Social Security and certain federal benefits, but mixed funds or older deposits can still be frozen until you claim the exemption.
When a creditor can take more than 25%
The 25% cap and Oregon’s protected floor apply to ordinary judgment creditors. Several categories follow different, often harsher, rules:
- Child and spousal support. Under the federal CCPA, support orders can reach up to 50% of disposable earnings if you support another spouse or child, or up to 60% if you do not — plus an additional 5% for arrears more than 12 weeks overdue. Oregon support enforcement follows these higher percentages.
- Unpaid state and federal taxes. Tax agencies use their own collection limits and are not bound by the 25% private-creditor cap. The IRS leaves you only a statutory exempt amount based on your filing status and dependents.
- Federal student loans. The U.S. Department of Education can administratively garnish up to 15% of disposable pay without first suing you.
How to claim an exemption and stop or reduce the garnishment
Oregon gives you a specific tool to fight back: the Challenge to Garnishment (ORS 18.700). When a garnishment is issued, the papers delivered to you and your employer must include a wage-exemption calculation and a challenge form explaining your rights.
- Read the garnishment packet immediately. It states the deadline for objecting and includes the Challenge to Garnishment form. Do not ignore it — the protected floor and 25% cap only help you if your employer applies them correctly, and an exemption for protected income (like Social Security wrongly garnished) must be raised by you.
- Complete the Challenge to Garnishment form. You use it to claim that the funds are exempt (for example, Social Security or unemployment) or that the garnishment took too much under the wage-exemption calculation.
- Deliver it on time. File or deliver the completed challenge to the court administrator for the court named on the writ within the deadline printed on your specific garnishment paperwork. Oregon law sets the timing in ORS 18.700, so follow the exact date on your notice rather than guessing.
- Keep proof. Send copies to the garnishor (the creditor or its attorney) as the form directs, and keep dated copies of everything you submit.
If you act within the deadline, the court must promptly decide your challenge, and wrongly garnished funds can be ordered returned. If you miss the deadline, you may still be able to ask the court for relief, but it is far harder — so move quickly.
Protect yourself going forward
A few practical steps reduce the damage. Keep exempt income (Social Security, VA benefits, unemployment) in a separate account that does not mix with garnishable wages, which makes it easier to prove the funds are protected. Respond to any lawsuit before judgment — most garnishments follow a default judgment that could have been contested. And if multiple creditors are garnishing or threatening to, get advice before more of your pay disappears.
Where to verify Oregon’s rules
For the current statutory figures, read ORS chapter 18 (especially ORS 18.385, 18.345, 18.348, and 18.700) on the Oregon State Legislature’s website, and use the garnishment and Challenge to Garnishment forms published by the Oregon Judicial Department. For consumer help and to report abusive collection conduct, contact the Oregon Department of Justice, Consumer Protection — the office of the Oregon Attorney General — through its consumer hotline and website. The federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) also protects you from abusive collectors and is enforced alongside Oregon law. Because dollar thresholds and procedures change, treat any figure here as a starting point and confirm it with these official sources or a licensed Oregon attorney before acting.
Official Oregon Sources
This page is based on Oregon law. Limits and deadlines change — verify the current details directly with the official Oregon sources below. This is general legal information, not legal advice.
Federal law also applies. Federal laws like the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and Fair Credit Reporting Act protect you nationwide, on top of Oregon’s own rules.
Frequently asked questions
How much of my paycheck can a creditor garnish in Oregon?
An ordinary judgment creditor can take the lesser of 25% of your disposable (after-tax) earnings or the amount your weekly disposable earnings exceed Oregon's protected floor under ORS 18.385 (roughly $254 per week as of 2026; confirm the current figure). If your disposable pay is at or below that floor, they get nothing.
Does Oregon protect more of my wages than federal law?
Yes. Federal law shields wages up to 30 times the federal minimum wage ($217.50 per week). Oregon's dollar floor is higher, so a creditor in Oregon must apply whichever rule leaves you more money. Oregon does not, however, ban wage garnishment for ordinary debts the way a few states do.
Can Social Security or unemployment be garnished in Oregon?
Not by ordinary creditors. Social Security, SSI, VA benefits, unemployment, workers' compensation, and public assistance are exempt under Oregon and federal law. If such funds are frozen in a bank account, you generally must claim the exemption using Oregon's Challenge to Garnishment process to get them released.
How do I stop or reduce a wage garnishment in Oregon?
File a Challenge to Garnishment (ORS 18.700) with the court administrator for the court listed on the writ, by the deadline printed on your garnishment papers. Use it to claim exempt income or to correct a miscalculation. Keep copies and send a copy to the creditor as the form directs.
Can child support take more than 25% of my wages in Oregon?
Yes. Under the federal Consumer Credit Protection Act, support orders can reach 50% to 60% of disposable earnings (plus 5% for arrears over 12 weeks old), and Oregon follows these higher limits. Tax debts and federal student loans also follow their own, separate rules.
This article is general legal information, not legal advice, and may not reflect the most current law or the law in your jurisdiction. Laws vary by state and change over time. For advice about your specific situation, consult a licensed attorney.
