As the Trump administration resumes collections on defaulted student loans, hundreds of thousands of older Americans with decades-old debts are now at risk of having their Social Security checks garnished.

That involuntary collection activity could have serious consequences on those who rely on the benefits to pay most, if not all, of their bills, consumer advocates say.

Staff cuts, stricter repayment rules, and office closures are straining Social Security. Here's how the Elon Musk-led DOGE initiative may affect you.