Yes, you can ask—but the answer depends on your loan type and lender
You can ask your mortgage lender to skip a payment or push it to the end of your loan. Whether they will say yes depends on what kind of mortgage you have, whether you are behind on payments already, and what the lender's own policies allow. Most lenders have formal programs for this, but they are not automatic—you have to request them, and the request goes through underwriting, not just a customer service phone call.
The most common option is called a forbearance, which temporarily pauses or reduces your monthly payment. A loan modification can permanently change your payment amount or term. A deferral adds skipped payments to the end of your loan instead of forgiving them. Each one has different rules about who qualifies, how long it lasts, and what happens when it ends.
Key Takeaways
- Forbearance pauses or reduces payments for three to twelve months, but the skipped amount is usually added back later or due in a lump sum when forbearance ends.
- You must contact your lender directly—most have a loss mitigation or loan modification department separate from regular customer service.
- Lenders can deny your request if you are current on payments and have no documented hardship, or if your loan is not may be able to access under their programs.
- Skipping a payment without approval will damage your credit and may trigger foreclosure proceedings, even if you catch up later.
- The process usually takes four to eight weeks from request to approval, so contact your lender as soon as you know you will have trouble paying.
What forbearance actually does to your loan
Forbearance is a temporary pause or reduction in your monthly payment. During forbearance, you pay less or nothing for a set period—usually three to twelve months. The key word is temporary. The money you do not pay does not disappear; it gets added back into your loan in one of three ways: as a lump sum due when forbearance ends, spread across your remaining payments, or added to the end of your loan term.
Your lender decides which method applies based on their program rules and your situation. Some lenders offer payment deferral, which adds the skipped amount to your loan balance and extends your payoff date. Others require a balloon payment—a large lump sum due when forbearance ends. A few will modify your loan to permanently lower the payment by extending the term or reducing the interest rate, but this is less common and requires a separate process.
During forbearance, you are not in default as long as you follow the forbearance agreement. Your credit report will note that you are in forbearance, which lenders can see, but it is not the same damage as a missed payment. However, if forbearance ends and you cannot pay the amount owed, your lender can move to foreclosure.
How to contact your lender and what documents to have ready
Call your mortgage servicer's loss mitigation department, not the regular payment line. The servicer is the company that collects your monthly payment—it may not be the bank that originally issued the loan. Your mortgage statement shows the servicer's name and phone number. Ask specifically for the loss mitigation or loan modification team. Do not assume a regular customer service representative can process a forbearance request; they usually cannot.
Have these documents ready before you call: your loan number, your current monthly payment amount, proof of the hardship (recent pay stubs, a termination letter, medical bills, or a lease showing you moved), and a list of any other debts or expenses that changed. Some lenders ask for a written hardship letter explaining why you need the deferral. The servicer will tell you what they need during the call.
After the call, ask for a reference number and confirmation of what you discussed. Request that the servicer send you a formal forbearance agreement in writing before the pause takes effect. This agreement must state how long forbearance lasts, what your payment will be during that time, and what happens when it ends. Do not rely on a verbal promise.
Lenders can say no—and often do
A lender can deny your request if you do not meet their criteria. Most servicers require that you have experienced a documented hardship—job loss, illness, divorce, or a significant income drop. If you are current on all payments and have no hardship to report, many lenders will deny forbearance. They are not required to pause payments for borrowers who straightforward want to skip a month.
Some loan types are not may be able to access. Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans, Veterans Affairs (VA) loans, and loans backed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac have their own forbearance rules, and servicers must follow those rules. Conventional loans not backed by a government agency may have stricter or looser policies depending on the lender. If your loan is already in default or foreclosure has started, forbearance may still be possible, but the process is more complex.
If your servicer denies your request, ask why in writing and request the specific policy that disqualifies you. You can then contact your state's attorney general's office or the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to file a complaint if you believe the denial was unfair or violated federal lending rules.
What happens when forbearance ends
When forbearance ends, you owe the skipped payments. Your servicer will tell you the amount and the important date before forbearance expires. If your agreement says the amount is due in a lump sum, you will owe it all at once—this is the riskiest option because many borrowers cannot pay it and fall back into default. If the amount is spread across your remaining payments, your monthly payment will be higher for a period of time. If it is added to your loan balance, your payoff date moves further into the future and you pay more interest overall.
Some servicers offer a second forbearance if you are still in hardship when the first one ends, but this is not may provide. If you cannot pay when forbearance ends and a second forbearance is not available, you can request a loan modification to permanently change your payment. This is a separate process and takes additional time.
The difference between forbearance, deferral, and modification
| Program | How It Works | Duration | What Happens After |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forbearance | Temporarily pause or reduce payment | 3 to 12 months | Skipped amount due as lump sum, added to monthly payment, or added to loan balance |
| Deferral | Skip payments; add them to loan balance | Varies; usually part of forbearance | Loan term extends; you pay more interest |
| Modification | Permanently change payment, rate, or term | Permanent | New payment amount for life of loan |
Forbearance is the fastest option and requires the least paperwork. Modification takes longer—usually six to twelve weeks—because the servicer must review your income and debt to determine a new payment you can afford. Modification is permanent, so it is the best option if your hardship is long-term or permanent. Forbearance is better if you expect to return to normal income within a few months.
What skipping a payment without permission costs you
If you skip a payment without asking your lender first, the payment is reported as late. After thirty days, it appears on your credit report as a thirty-day late payment. After sixty days, it is a sixty-day late. After ninety days, your lender can begin foreclosure proceedings in most states. A single missed payment can drop your credit score by fifty to one hundred points, making it harder to borrow money, rent an apartment, or get a job that requires a credit check.
Even if you catch up later, the late payment stays on your credit report for seven years. Forbearance, by contrast, does not create a late payment as long as you follow the agreement. This is why asking first—even if you think the answer might be no—is always better than skipping and asking forgiveness later.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I skip a payment if I am already behind?
Yes, but the process is more complicated. If you are already thirty or more days late, your servicer will likely require a loan modification instead of forbearance, and they may require you to catch up on the arrears as part of the agreement. Contact your servicer when ready; the longer you wait, the closer you move to foreclosure.
Will forbearance hurt my credit score?
Forbearance itself does not create a late payment, so it will not damage your credit the way a missed payment does. However, your credit report will show that you are in forbearance, and some lenders view this as a risk factor. The damage is much less than a missed payment, and your score can recover once forbearance ends and you resume normal payments.
What if my servicer says I do not may have access to?
Ask for the denial in writing and the specific reason. If you believe the denial violates federal lending rules, you can file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau or your state's attorney general. You can also contact a HUD-approved housing counselor for free information on your options.
Can I skip multiple payments in a row?
Forbearance typically covers a set period—three to twelve months—during which you pay a reduced amount or nothing. You cannot pick and choose which months to skip. If you need to skip payments for longer than twelve months, you will need a loan modification instead.
What happens if I cannot pay when forbearance ends?
Contact your servicer before forbearance ends and ask about a second forbearance or a loan modification. If neither is available and you cannot pay, your servicer can begin foreclosure. Acting early gives you more options than waiting until you are in default.