# Mortgage Forbearance: What It Is and How to Request It By Opendoor Editorial Team | 2026-05-18 # Mortgage Forbearance: What It Is and How to Request It Mortgage forbearance is a temporary pause or reduction in your mortgage payments granted by your lender during financial hardship. It does not erase the debt — you'll still need to repay the missed amount once forbearance ends, typically through a repayment plan or loan modification. If you're struggling to make your mortgage payment, contacting your servicer early is critical. Here's exactly how forbearance works, what it means for your credit, and how to apply step by step. ## What Is Mortgage Forbearance? Mortgage forbearance is a formal agreement between you and your loan servicer to temporarily pause, reduce, or restructure your monthly mortgage payments during a period of financial hardship. It is one of several mortgage payment relief options available to struggling homeowners. The most important thing to understand: **forbearance is not loan forgiveness.** The payments you skip or reduce during the forbearance period still must be repaid. Your servicer will work with you on a plan to make up those amounts once you're back on your feet. Common hardships that may qualify you for a forbearance agreement include: - **Job loss or reduced income** — layoff, furlough, or significant reduction in hours - **Medical emergency** — a serious illness, injury, or medical expenses that drain your reserves - **Divorce or separation** — loss of a dual-income household - **Natural disaster** — damage from a hurricane, wildfire, flood, or earthquake - **Unexpected major expense** — an essential home repair or family crisis In short, mortgage forbearance is a temporary safety net designed to help you avoid foreclosure while you recover from a financial setback — not a permanent solution to unaffordable housing costs. ## How Does Mortgage Forbearance Work? Understanding how forbearance works can reduce the anxiety around the process. Here's the typical step-by-step flow, based on guidance from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB): **Step 1: Contact your servicer early.** Call as soon as you anticipate difficulty making a payment. Don't wait until you're already behind. Early outreach gives you more options and demonstrates good faith. Your servicer's phone number is on your monthly [mortgage](/articles/what-is-a-mortgage) statement. **Step 2: Document your hardship.** Most servicers require a written hardship explanation. You may also need supporting documents such as a termination letter, medical bills, an insurance claim, or proof of reduced income. **Step 3: Negotiate terms.** A standard forbearance period typically lasts 3 to 6 months initially, with extensions available up to 12 or even 18 months for federally backed loans during declared emergencies. Your servicer will discuss what duration and payment structure fits your situation. **Step 4: Receive a forbearance agreement in writing.** The agreement should outline the exact terms — duration, whether interest continues to accrue, how payments will be reported to credit bureaus, and what your exit options are when forbearance ends. **Step 5: Resume payments and repay.** When the forbearance period ends, you'll work with your servicer on a repayment plan, loan modification, or other workout option to bring your loan current. The process is designed to be collaborative, not adversarial. Servicers are [required under federal Mortgage Servicing Rules (Regulation X)](https://www.consumerfinance.gov/rules-policy/regulations/1024/41/) to evaluate borrowers for all available loss mitigation options before proceeding toward foreclosure. ## Mortgage Forbearance vs. Deferment vs. Loan Modification These three terms are often confused, but they represent distinct forms of mortgage payment relief. Understanding the differences helps you choose the right path. | | Forbearance | Deferment | Loan Modification | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | What it does | Pauses or reduces payments temporarily | Postpones missed payments to the end of the loan | Permanently changes loan terms | | Duration | 3–18 months typical | Often paired with forbearance exit | Permanent | | Interest during pause | Usually continues to accrue | Continues to accrue | New interest rate may apply | | Credit impact | Reported as forbearance — usually not delinquent if agreed to | Generally neutral if part of an approved plan | Reported as modified loan | | Best for | Short-term hardship | When you can't catch up via a repayment plan | Long-term inability to afford current payments | **Forbearance** is a temporary pause. **Deferment** shifts what you owe to the back of the loan so you don't have to catch up all at once. **Loan modification** permanently rewrites your loan terms — potentially lowering your [interest rate](/articles/how-mortgage-rates-work), extending your term, or capitalizing arrears into the new balance. For FHA loans, deferment often takes the form of a partial claim through HUD, where missed payments are held as a separate, non-interest-bearing lien paid when you sell or refinance. Fannie Mae's Flex Modification program offers a similar permanent relief structure for conventional loans. ## Does Mortgage Forbearance Hurt Your Credit Score? This is one of the most common concerns, and the answer is more reassuring than most homeowners expect. Under [federal Mortgage Servicing Rules and Dodd-Frank protections](https://www.consumerfinance.gov/rules-policy/regulations/1024/41/), a forbearance plan you've formally agreed to with your servicer is typically reported to credit bureaus as **"in forbearance"** or **"current"** — **not as delinquent.** This means an active, approved forbearance should not tank your credit score the way a missed payment would. However, there are important nuances: - **Missed payments before forbearance is granted** may still be reported as late. This is why contacting your servicer before you miss a payment is so critical. - **Future mortgage applications** can be affected. Most lenders require a waiting period of 3 to 12 months of on-time payments after forbearance before approving a new home loan or refinance. - **Refinancing** is generally allowed after at least 3 consecutive on-time payments following forbearance, though specific requirements vary by lender and loan type. The bottom line: a properly documented forbearance agreement protects your credit far better than simply stopping payments without telling your servicer. ## How Long Does Mortgage Forbearance Last? The duration of your forbearance depends on your loan type, your servicer's policies, and whether any federal emergency programs are in effect. - **Standard forbearance:** Typically 3 to 6 months initially, with the option to extend up to 12 months based on continued hardship. - **Federal programs (CARES Act-era and successors):** For federally backed mortgages — including Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, FHA, [VA](https://www.va.gov/housing-assistance/), and USDA loans — forbearance during declared national emergencies has extended up to 18 months. - **Disaster forbearance:** After a hurricane, wildfire, or other natural disaster, servicers typically offer 90-day forbearance periods, often extendable in 90-day increments. - **Lender-specific programs:** Private and portfolio lenders set their own terms. Some offer 3 months at a time with a review before each renewal. If you're unsure what type of loan you have, check your [mortgage note](/articles/what-is-a-mortgage-note) or ask your servicer directly. The loan type determines which relief programs are available to you. ## What Happens After Forbearance Ends? When your forbearance period expires, you don't simply return to making normal payments as if nothing happened. You'll need to address the missed amounts. Your servicer is [required to evaluate you for all available workout options](https://www.consumerfinance.gov/rules-policy/regulations/1024/41/) before taking any adverse action. Here are the most common exit options: - **Reinstatement (lump sum):** Pay the entire missed amount at once. This works best if you've received a lump-sum settlement, insurance payout, or other one-time financial event. - **Repayment plan:** Spread the missed payments over the next 3 to 12 months, added on top of your regular monthly payment. This is the most common option for borrowers who have regained stable income. - **Loan modification:** Permanently change your loan terms — a lower rate, a longer term, or capitalized arrears — to reduce your monthly payment going forward. Fannie Mae's Flex Modification is one well-known program. - **Deferment or partial claim:** Missed payments are moved to the end of the loan or held as a non-interest-bearing lien. This is especially common with FHA partial claims through HUD. - **Sale or short sale:** If recovery isn't possible and you can no longer afford the home, you may work with your servicer to sell the property. A short sale avoids foreclosure and may satisfy the remaining balance. Your servicer should walk you through these options before forbearance ends. If they don't, ask — and consider reaching out to a HUD-approved housing counselor for free, independent guidance. ## How to Request Mortgage Forbearance If you've decided forbearance is the right step, here's exactly how to request it: - **Call your servicer.** Find the number on your mortgage statement or your servicer's website. Ask for the **"loss mitigation"** or **"loan workout"** department specifically. - **State your hardship clearly.** Be direct and specific: "I was laid off on March 15" or "I had emergency surgery and can't work for three months." Vague explanations slow the process. - **Ask what programs you qualify for.** Different loan types offer different relief. Confirm whether your loan is backed by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, FHA, [VA](https://www.va.gov/housing-assistance/), or USDA — each has its own forbearance rules. - **Request the agreement in writing.** Never accept a verbal-only forbearance. Written documentation protects you if there's a dispute later. - **Read the terms carefully.** Confirm the duration, whether interest accrues during the pause, how payments will be reported to credit bureaus, and what your exit options will be. - **Document everything.** Keep copies of all emails, letters, and agreements. Log every phone call with the date, time, representative's name, and what was discussed. For free help navigating the process, contact a HUD-approved housing counselor or call **1-800-569-4287**. These counselors work at no cost to you and can negotiate with your servicer on your behalf. ## Can a Lender Deny Forbearance? Yes — forbearance is not an absolute right in every situation, though protections exist for many borrowers. - **Federally backed mortgages during declared emergencies:** For loans backed by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, FHA, VA, or USDA during a federally declared disaster or national emergency, forbearance is generally available upon request without extensive documentation. Denial in these circumstances is rare. - **Conventional or private mortgages outside emergencies:** Lenders evaluate your hardship documentation and may deny forbearance if the hardship isn't adequately documented or if they determine another relief option is more appropriate. If your request is denied: - Request a **written explanation** of the denial - Ask for a **review by a supervisor** or a different representative - Contact a HUD-approved housing counselor for assistance - File a formal complaint with the [CFPB](https://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/) if you believe your servicer violated federal servicing rules You have the right to be evaluated fairly, and federal regulations require servicers to follow specific procedures before denying loss mitigation assistance. ## When NOT to Use Forbearance Forbearance is a powerful tool, but it isn't always the best choice. Avoid it in these situations: - **You can still afford your payments.** Forbearance causes interest to accrue on the paused amount, increases your total loan cost, and can complicate future refinancing. If you can pay, keep paying. - **Your hardship is permanent.** If your income has permanently decreased and you know you can't return to your original payment, a loan modification is a better long-term solution than delaying the inevitable. - **You don't understand the exit plan.** Before entering forbearance, make sure you know how you'll repay the missed amounts. If you can't afford a lump sum or increased payments after the pause, discuss a deferment or modification upfront. Use our [mortgage calculator](https://www.opendoor.com/mortgage-calculator) to model different repayment scenarios and understand how forbearance may affect your total cost over the life of your loan. **Frequently asked questions** ## Disclosure Opendoor Home Loans LLC is not available in all markets. Products, programs, rates, and terms are subject to change without notice. This material is provided for informational purposes only and is not an offer or guarantee of credit. Contact Opendoor Home Loans for current availability. --- *Originally published at [https://www.opendoor.com/articles/mortgage-forbearance](https://www.opendoor.com/articles/mortgage-forbearance)*