Wage Garnishment in Nebraska

Nebraska: Enhanced Protection for Household Providers

Nebraska provides a meaningful enhancement to the federal baseline for heads of household. Under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-1556, while the standard CCPA limits apply to most workers (25% of disposable earnings), heads of household benefit from a reduced 15% cap — protecting 85% of their disposable earnings from garnishment.

How Nebraska’s HOH Protection Works

For a head-of-household worker in Nebraska earning $800/week in disposable earnings:

• HOH cap: 15% × $800 = $120/week maximum garnishable
• Federal cap (comparison): 25% × $800 = $200/week maximum garnishable

The HOH worker in Nebraska keeps $80 more per week than they would under the federal default — roughly $4,160 more per year.

Minimum Wage Context

Nebraska’s minimum wage reached $13.50/hour following the successful 2022 ballot initiative (Initiative 433), which mandated annual increases through 2026 with subsequent CPI-based adjustments. This means a full-time minimum-wage HOH worker in Nebraska earns approximately $540/week, with at most $81 garnishable under the 15% cap — leaving a livable take-home wage.

Regional Comparison

Nebraska’s protections compare favorably to its neighbors. South Dakota follows the bare federal baseline. Wyoming and Iowa do as well. Missouri offers an even stronger 10% HOH cap, while Colorado provides a 20% cap and 40× multiplier for all workers regardless of HOH status. Nebraska’s 15% HOH cap places it in the middle tier of Plains states protections.

Statute: Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-1556; 15 U.S.C. § 1673 — Official source

This calculator is for consumer debt garnishment only. Not legal advice. Rules vary by debt type (student loans, child support, taxes). Verify with official sources before making any financial or legal decisions.