Collections on defaulted federal student loans will resume on May 5, after a five-year pause. Wage garnishment and Treasury offset are measures the government could enact to collect on student loan debt.

In two weeks, loan holders will start the process of seeking money from borrowers who have missed payments for 270 days or more.

The Department of Education says it will resume collections on May 5 and send wage garnishment notices "later this summer." Here's how to know — and what to do — if you'll be affected.