Illinois Wage Garnishment Limits
Updated November 2026 · Free · No sign-up
Check Illinois wage garnishment limits — Lesser of 15% of GROSS or disposable over 45× minimum wage. The 15%-of-gross cap undercuts the federal 25% — Illinois debtors keep more.
Quick answer: Illinois: Lesser of 15% of GROSS or disposable over 45× minimum wage. The 15%-of-gross cap undercuts the federal 25% — Illinois debtors keep more. Child support and tax levies follow their own higher federal schedules everywhere.
The Illinois Rule
Lesser of 15% of GROSS or disposable over 45× minimum wage. The 15%-of-gross cap undercuts the federal 25% — Illinois debtors keep more.
How It Compares to Federal
The federal CCPA floor (lesser of 25% of disposable, or disposable minus 30× the $7.25 minimum = $217.50/week protected) applies everywhere — states may only protect MORE. Illinois’s rule adjusts the formula in the debtor’s favor, which the calculator reflects against your numbers.
Universal Rules That Still Apply
- Child support: 50-65% of disposable under federal law — untouched by state consumer-debt shields.
- Federal student loans: 15% administrative garnishment; IRS levies: table-based.
- One-garnishment firing protection (CCPA) applies nationally.
- Exemption claims: the garnishment notice includes the form — deadlines are short; file immediately.
Responding to a Garnishment Notice
Verify the math against this page, file the exemption claim where the state shields you (head-of-family in Florida, the prohibitions in TX/PA/NC), and consider negotiating voluntary payments — creditors routinely prefer agreements over administration. The full federal framework and the multi-debt stacking rules live in the main garnishment calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much can be garnished in Illinois?
Lesser of 15% of GROSS or disposable over 45× minimum wage — for ordinary consumer debts; support and tax debts follow separate higher schedules.
Is Illinois better than federal protection?
Where the state formula protects more than the CCPA floor, the state rule wins for the debtor.
Can child support still garnish in Illinois?
Yes — 50-65% of disposable under federal rules; state consumer shields never block support or tax collection.
Can I be fired over a garnishment?
Not for a single garnishment (federal CCPA protection); some states extend further.
How do I claim my exemptions?
File the exemption form served with the garnishment notice before its deadline — head-of-family and income-based shields require the claim.
✓ Formula verified • Last updated: November 3, 2026