Washington State Dept. of Social and Health Services v. Guardianship of Keffeler, 01-1420 (Decided 2/25/03)

State's use of respondents' Social Security benefits to reimburse itself does not violate anti-assignment clause in 42 U.S. C. § 407(a). Neither the Department's effort to become a representative payee, nor its use of respondents' Social Security benefits when it acts in that capacity, amounts to employing an "execution, levy, attachment, garnishment, or other legal process" under 407(a).Decision is attached and online at https://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/01-1420.ZS.html