Some federal student loan borrowers are in for an unwelcome surprise.

For Marketplace, I'm Novosafo, in for David Bernaccio.

People who are in default on their federal student loans could start seeing their wages garnished in the new year.

Next week, the Department of Education plans to start sending out letters to borrowers who have missed at least nine months of payments,

letting them know the government will begin taking 15% from their paychecks.

Garnishments are resuming for the first time since the COVID pandemic began.

Marketplaces Samantha Fields has more.

Before the pandemic, it was common for people who went into default on their federal student loans to have their wages garnished.

It was one of the most effective collection tactics that the Department of Education has at its disposal.

Betsy Mayotte at the nonprofit, the Institute of Student Loan Advisers, says, unlike other creditors,

the federal government doesn't have to go to court to start garnishing people's wages once they're in default.

It can just do it. Around 5 million people are currently in default on their student loans,

according to federal data, and millions more are behind on their payments.

I think there's nearly universal recognition that that 5 million could easily become 8 $10 million in the next few months.

Adam Minsky, a lawyer who works with borrowers, says lots of people are probably unaware

that the years-long COVID payment pauses over and they're behind.

A lot of cases, these are old loans.

borrowers may have moved, change their address.

They may not be receiving notifications.

And so I have a feeling that

a lot of people are probably going to be surprised when they get hit with the garnishment.

And it will be happening at a difficult time for many, Betsy Mayotte says, as the most affordable

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