What Affirm's payment skip does and doesn't do
Affirm lets you skip one payment on some of your loans, but only if you meet their conditions and only once per loan. When you skip a payment, that month's payment is moved to the end of your loan — you don't pay it now, but you will pay it later. Affirm doesn't erase the payment or reduce what you owe. The loan straightforward gets longer.
Skipping a payment through Affirm is different from a deferral or extension. With Affirm's skip, you're postponing one scheduled payment. The company decides whether you're allowed to do this based on your account history and the loan terms. You can't skip whenever you want — there are rules about timing and frequency.
Not every Affirm loan qualifies for a skip. Shorter loans (typically those under 12 months) usually don't have skip options. Longer loans, especially those with monthly payments, are more likely to offer this feature. The best way to know if your specific loan allows a skip is to open the Affirm app or log into your account and look at your payment options.
Key Takeaways
- Affirm's skip feature postpones one payment to the end of your loan rather than canceling it, so your total loan length increases by one month.
- You can typically skip only once per loan, and shorter loans under 12 months usually don't offer this option.
- Skipping a payment doesn't hurt your credit score because Affirm reports it as a legitimate payment deferral, not a missed payment.
- To use the skip feature, open the Affirm app, find your loan, and look for the payment options menu — the button is usually labeled "Skip Payment" or similar.
- If you skip a payment, you'll owe that amount at the very end of your loan term, so plan ahead for that final larger payment.
How to skip a payment through the Affirm app
Open the Affirm app on your phone or go to affirm.com on a computer and sign into your account. Find the loan you want to skip a payment on — you'll see a list of all your active loans on the main screen. Tap or click on that specific loan to open its details page.
Look for a button or menu option that says "Skip Payment," "Manage Payment," or "Payment Options." The exact wording varies depending on when Affirm updated their app, but it's usually near the top of the loan details or in a menu marked with three dots. Tap that button. Affirm will show you whether a skip is available for this loan and which payment month you can skip.
If the skip option appears, select the payment you want to postpone (usually it's your next scheduled payment). Affirm will confirm the new payment schedule and show you when that skipped payment will be due — it moves to the end of your loan. Once you confirm, the skip is processed when ready. You won't owe anything that month, and your next payment will be the one after the skipped month.
When Affirm won't let you skip a payment
Affirm blocks payment skips on loans that are too short. If your loan term is less than 12 months, you typically won't see a skip option at all. The company reasons that there's not enough time to move a payment around without making the loan extend past what you originally agreed to.
You also can't skip if you've already skipped once on that loan. Affirm limits you to one skip per loan, so once you use it, the option disappears. If you need to postpone another payment, you'd have to contact Affirm's support team and discuss other options like a payment plan adjustment.
If your account is behind on payments or in default, Affirm won't let you skip. The skip feature is only for accounts in good standing. Similarly, if you're in a payment plan with Affirm because of a past missed payment, skipping may not be available until you've caught up.
How skipping a payment affects your credit score
Skipping a payment through Affirm's official skip feature does not hurt your credit score. Affirm reports the skip to credit bureaus as a legitimate deferral or postponement, not as a missed or late payment. Your payment history — the part of your credit score that matters most — stays clean.
This is important: the skip only protects your credit if you use Affirm's built-in skip feature. If you straightforward don't pay when a payment is due and don't use the skip option, that counts as a missed payment and will damage your credit. Always use the app to request the skip rather than just skipping on your own.
Your credit score might shift slightly because your loan term gets longer, which can affect your credit mix or the average age of your accounts. These shifts are usually small. The bigger impact comes from the fact that you're extending your loan, which means you'll pay interest for an extra month.
The cost of skipping a payment
When you skip a payment, you're not avoiding the cost — you're postponing it. That skipped payment still accrues interest, and it gets added to the end of your loan. If your loan had 12 months left and you skip one payment, you now have 13 months left, and you'll pay interest on that extra month.
The exact cost depends on your interest rate and loan amount. A $500 loan at 10% interest will cost more to extend than a $200 loan at 0% interest. Affirm should show you the new total amount due and the new final payment amount before you confirm the skip. Look at those numbers carefully — that's what you'll actually owe.
Skipping makes sense if you're temporarily short on cash and need breathing room. It doesn't make sense if you're trying to reduce what you owe overall. You'll pay the same amount or slightly more because of the extra interest.
Alternatives if you can't skip or need more help
If your loan doesn't may have access to for a skip or you've already used your one skip, contact Affirm's customer support directly. You can reach them through the app by tapping the menu and selecting "Help" or "Contact Us." Explain your situation — that you need to postpone a payment. They may be able to set up a temporary payment plan, reduce a single payment, or discuss other options.
Some Affirm loans come with payment plans that let you adjust your payment schedule without using the skip feature. If you're struggling with multiple payments, a plan might work better than a one-time skip. Support can walk you through whether this is available for your loan.
If you're having ongoing financial difficulty, you might also look into whether you can refinance your Affirm loan with a longer term, which would lower your monthly payment. This is different from skipping and requires a new process, but it's worth asking about if you're in a tight spot.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I skip a payment if I'm behind on my loan?
No. Affirm only allows skips on accounts in good standing. If you've missed a payment or are behind, you need to catch up first. Contact Affirm support to discuss what options exist for your situation — they may offer a catch-up plan or other arrangements.
What happens if I skip a payment and then can't pay the final lump sum?
Your skipped payment gets added to your final payment, making it larger. If you can't pay it when it's due, you'll be late on that final payment, which will show on your credit report. Plan ahead: if you skip now, make sure you'll have the money when that extra payment comes due at the end of your loan.
Can I skip multiple payments on the same loan?
No. Affirm limits you to one skip per loan. Once you've used your skip, that option is gone for that loan. If you need to postpone more than one payment, contact support to discuss a payment plan or other arrangements.
Does skipping a payment delay when my loan is paid off?
Yes. When you skip a payment, your loan term extends by one month. If your loan was supposed to be paid off in 12 months, it will now be paid off in 13 months. You'll owe that skipped payment at the very end.
Will Affirm charge me a fee to skip a payment?
Affirm does not charge a separate fee for using the skip feature. However, you will pay interest on the skipped amount for that extra month, which increases your total cost. The app shows you the new total before you confirm, so you can see the exact cost.