How to Pause Your Mortgage Payments
A Complete Guide to Mortgage Forbearance
Life can take unexpected turns — a job loss, a medical emergency, a natural disaster, or any other financial hardship can make keeping up with your monthly mortgage payments feel impossible. The good news is that most lenders and loan servicers offer options to temporarily pause or reduce your payments through a process called mortgage forbearance.
This guide walks you through exactly what to do, step by step, so you can navigate the process with confidence and protect your home.
What Is Mortgage Forbearance?
Mortgage forbearance is a formal agreement between you and your loan servicer that temporarily reduces or suspends your mortgage payments for a set period. It is not loan forgiveness — the paused payments must eventually be repaid — but it gives you breathing room to stabilize your finances without facing immediate foreclosure.
Forbearance is different from refinancing or loan modification. It’s a temporary pause, not a permanent change to your loan terms.
Step-by-Step: How to Pause Your Mortgage Payments
Step 1: Assess Your Financial Situation
Before making any calls, take stock of your finances. Identify why you are struggling — is it a temporary setback (such as job loss or medical bills) or a longer-term issue? Lenders will ask about your hardship, so having a clear and honest picture helps you communicate your situation effectively and choose the right relief option.
Step 2: Review Your Mortgage Documents
Pull out your original loan documents or log in to your servicer’s online portal. Look for your loan type (conventional, FHA, VA, or USDA) and your servicer’s contact information. Your loan type matters: government-backed loans (FHA, VA, USDA, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac) have federally mandated forbearance protections, while conventional loans depend on your lender’s policies.
Step 3: Contact Your Mortgage Servicer
Call the phone number on your mortgage statement or log in to your online account. Ask specifically to speak with the loss mitigation or hardship department. Be prepared for hold times — these departments are often busy. When you reach someone, clearly state that you are experiencing financial hardship and would like to request a forbearance.
Tip: Keep a notebook handy. Write down the date, the representative’s name, and a summary of everything discussed during the call.
Step 4: Submit a Formal Hardship Letter
Many servicers will require you to submit a written hardship letter explaining your situation. Keep it concise and factual: state your name and loan number, describe the nature of your hardship, explain that it is temporary, and request a specific forbearance period (typically 3–6 months). Attach supporting documentation where possible.
Common supporting documents include:
- Recent pay stubs or proof of income loss
- Termination letter or furlough notice from employer
- Medical bills or doctor’s letter (for medical hardship)
- Disaster declaration (for natural disasters)
- Bank statements showing financial strain
Step 5: Understand the Forbearance Agreement Terms
Before signing anything, read the agreement carefully. Key things to confirm:
- How long the forbearance period lasts
- Whether payments are fully suspended or just reduced
- How the paused payments will be repaid (lump sum, repayment plan, or loan modification)
- Whether interest continues to accrue during forbearance
- Any impact on your credit score
Step 6: Keep Making Payments If You Can
If your hardship is partial — for instance, you lost one income but still have another — continue making whatever payments you can afford. Partial payments show good faith and reduce the balance you will need to repay later. Even small payments during forbearance can help.
Step 7: Monitor Your Credit Report
Under federal law (the CARES Act and related guidance), servicers should not report your account as delinquent if you are in an approved forbearance. However, errors happen. Monitor your credit reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute any inaccurate negative entries promptly.
Step 8: Plan Your Exit Strategy Before Forbearance Ends
About 30–60 days before your forbearance period ends, contact your servicer again. Discuss your repayment options:
- Lump-sum repayment: Pay all missed payments at once (required by some lenders)
- Repayment plan: Add a portion of the missed payments to future monthly bills
- Loan modification: Permanently adjust your loan terms (interest rate, term length)
- Deferral: Move missed payments to the end of your loan
Important Things to Know
- Forbearance is not automatic — you must apply for it. Stopping payments without approval will result in late fees and damage to your credit.
- You do not need to use a third-party company to apply for forbearance. Always contact your servicer directly — it’s free.
- If your loan is federally backed (Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, FHA, VA, or USDA), you have stronger legal protections and more options.
- Repeated forbearance requests are possible for ongoing hardship, though approval is not guaranteed.
The Bottom Line
Pausing your mortgage payments is a real option designed for exactly these situations. The process requires proactive communication with your servicer, clear documentation of your hardship, and a plan for how you will resume payments. Taking action early — before you fall behind — gives you the most options and the best outcome.
Remember: your lender does not want to foreclose on your home. Foreclosure is expensive and time-consuming for them too. Most servicers will work with you if you reach out early and communicate openly.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or legal advice. Always consult a HUD-approved housing counselor or financial advisor for guidance specific to your situation. You can find a free HUD-approved counselor at hud.gov.
