State tuition fees 9 years old, time barred?

My wife signed up with a state University in mid 2010. My health condition deteriorated greatly at the same time so she only attended two days and just stopped going. I have a chronic rare illness expected to result in death. Because she was young, she neglected paying it or dropping out. She owed $6200. Her state taxes were garnished the next year or so leaving $5900 owed. Then we never heard from it again. In fact a year later when it showed up on her credit it was green and good and settled, even though we clearly didn't pay it.

We log into the government student loan website and the loan name and date show up there but just has zeros for everything, everything marked as cancelled with $0 owed.

Now, 9 years later, we have received a letter from collection agency EOS CCA stating that they have collected the debt of $5888 and we should pay. However, it also says

"This is a time barred debt and no legal action may be filed."

What I think has happened is this, my wife got government loans but the government loans were retracted a couple of months later, therefore never really existing. But the school itself now has a tuition balance of $5888 against her. I think we do not have any government loan debt.

However,

The more I read the more confused I get.
The CA letter clearly says the debt is time barred.

I read this lady's posts here named "SoapLady" and I believe she says state tuition fees have no SOL and cannot be time barred.

I don't know what to think.

It's been nine+ years. Can this go on her credit in any way?

Can they garnish her wages?

Can they garnish her tax refunds? This one I actually wouldn't mind. So long as her credit and wages aren't hit.

Sorry this is so confusing, if anyone could adivse we'd be grateful.
Thank you.