Yes, you can defer mortgage payments, but only under specific circumstances

A mortgage payment deferral means postponing one or more monthly payments to the end of your loan instead of paying them now. The payment does not disappear — it gets added to your loan balance, so you will owe it later. Deferral is different from forgiveness (where the payment goes away) or forbearance (where you pause payments temporarily but they still come due). Most lenders offer deferral only if you are already behind on payments or facing a documented hardship like job loss, medical emergency, or divorce.

The key thing to understand: deferral is a negotiation between you and your lender, not an automatic right. Your lender decides whether to offer it, on what terms, and for how long. Some lenders are more willing than others, and some loan types (like government-backed mortgages) have more structured deferral programs than conventional loans.

Key Takeaways

  • Mortgage deferral adds skipped payments to the end of your loan balance rather than forgiving them, so you pay them eventually with interest.
  • Your lender must agree to deferral — it is not automatic, and approval depends on your loan type, payment history, and the reason for the request.
  • Government-backed loans (FHA, VA, USDA) have formal deferral programs with set rules, while conventional loans are handled case-by-case.
  • You must contact your lender directly to request deferral, and the process usually requires written documentation of your hardship and current financial situation.
  • Deferral can damage your credit score temporarily, but less severely than a missed payment or foreclosure would.

How deferral actually changes your loan

When your lender agrees to defer a payment, that month's payment amount gets added to your loan principal — the total amount you borrowed. If you defer three months of $1,500 payments, you now owe an extra $4,500 on top of your original loan balance. You will pay interest on that deferred amount going forward, which means deferral costs you money in the long run.

The deferred payments typically get added to the end of your loan, extending your payoff date. If you had 25 years left on your mortgage and defer 6 months of payments, you might now have 25 years and 6 months. Some lenders instead add the deferred amount to your regular monthly payment for a set period, so you pay it back faster but your monthly bill goes up temporarily.

Deferral does not erase the missed payments from your credit report when ready, but it prevents them from being reported as delinquent if you reach an agreement with your lender before the payment is officially late. If you miss a payment and then ask for deferral after the fact, the damage to your credit score has already happened.

Government-backed loans have formal deferral programs

If your mortgage is backed by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), or the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), your lender must follow specific deferral rules set by those agencies. These programs are more predictable than conventional deferral because the rules are the same across all lenders.

FHA loans allow deferral of up to 12 months of payments if you have experienced a documented hardship. VA loans offer similar deferral for borrowers facing temporary financial difficulty. USDA loans have a deferral program for borrowers who fall behind due to circumstances beyond their control. Each program requires you to prove the hardship and show that you can resume regular payments once the deferral period ends.

To find out which program your loan falls under, check your loan documents or contact your loan servicer (the company that collects your payments). They can tell you whether you have a government-backed loan and what deferral options are available to you.

Conventional loans are handled case-by-case

If you have a conventional mortgage — one not backed by FHA, VA, or USDA — your lender has more flexibility in deciding whether to offer deferral and on what terms. Some conventional lenders have formal deferral programs; others handle each request individually. There is no may provide your lender will agree, even if you have a legitimate hardship.

Conventional lenders are more likely to offer deferral if you have a strong payment history before the hardship occurred. If you have missed multiple payments in the past or have other delinquent accounts, your lender may refuse deferral or offer it only with stricter conditions. Some lenders require you to be current on your payments before they will consider deferral, while others will work with you if you are already behind.

The terms vary widely: one lender might defer up to 6 months, another up to 12. Some add the deferred amount to your loan balance; others require you to repay it within a shorter timeframe. This is why contacting your specific lender early is important — you need to know what they actually offer, not what another lender might.

How to request deferral from your lender

Contact your loan servicer directly — the company listed on your mortgage statement that collects your payments. Call the number on your statement or visit their website to find the department that handles loan modifications or hardship requests. Do not wait until you have missed a payment; the best time to request deferral is before you fall behind, when your lender is more likely to work with you.

Be prepared to explain your hardship in writing. Your lender will ask for documentation: proof of job loss (like a termination letter or unemployment benefits statement), medical bills and explanation of unexpected medical costs, divorce decree if applicable, or other evidence of the specific event that created the financial strain. They will also ask for recent pay stubs, tax returns, and a list of your current debts to assess whether you can actually resume payments after the deferral period.

The process typically takes two to four weeks. Your lender will send you a written agreement that spells out how many payments are being deferred, when they will be added back to your loan, and what your new payment terms are. Read this carefully before signing — make sure you understand the total cost and the new payment amount or loan term.

What happens if your lender denies deferral

If your lender refuses deferral, you have other options. You can request forbearance, where your lender temporarily pauses or reduces your payments without adding them to your loan balance — though you will still owe them eventually. You can ask about a loan modification, which permanently changes your loan terms (like lowering your interest rate or extending the loan term) to make your payment more affordable. Some lenders offer partial claim programs, where they lend you money to catch up on missed payments.

If you have a government-backed loan and your servicer denies your request, you can file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) or contact a HUD-approved housing counselor, who can advocate on your behalf. Housing counselors are free and can help you understand your options and prepare your request.

If you are facing foreclosure, contact a legal aid organization in your state — many offer free or low-cost help fighting foreclosure or negotiating with lenders. The earlier you reach out, the more options you have.

The credit impact of deferral

If you reach a deferral agreement before you miss a payment, the deferral itself typically does not appear on your credit report as a negative mark. However, if you miss payments and then negotiate deferral after the fact, those missed payments will show up as delinquencies on your credit report and will lower your credit score.

The damage is temporary but real. A 30-day late payment might lower your score by 50 to 100 points; a 60-day or 90-day late payment causes more damage. The impact fades over time, especially if you stay current on all payments going forward. After two years, the late payment has much less effect on your score; after seven years, it falls off your report entirely.

Deferral is still better for your credit than foreclosure, which can lower your score by 100 to 200 points and stays on your report for seven years. It is also better than a short sale or deed in lieu of foreclosure. If you are choosing between missing payments and requesting deferral, requesting deferral first is the smarter move.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I defer my mortgage payment if I am current on all payments?

Most lenders will not defer payments unless you are already behind or facing an imminent hardship. Some lenders may consider deferral if you can document a specific hardship (like a job loss) and show that you cannot make the next payment, but this is less common. Contact your lender to ask what their policy is — it varies by servicer.

What is the difference between deferral and forbearance?

Deferral adds missed payments to your loan balance, extending your payoff date. Forbearance temporarily pauses or reduces your payments, but you still owe the full amount later — usually in a lump sum or added to future payments. Forbearance is often shorter-term (a few months), while deferral can extend longer.

If I defer payments, will my interest rate change?

Your interest rate stays the same, but you will pay interest on the deferred amount once it is added to your loan balance. If you defer $4,500 in payments and your interest rate is 4%, you will pay interest on that $4,500 for the remaining life of the loan, which adds to your total cost.

How long can I defer my mortgage payments?

It depends on your lender and loan type. Government-backed loans typically allow deferral of 6 to 12 months. Conventional loans vary — some allow up to 6 months, others up to 12. Ask your servicer what the maximum deferral period is for your specific loan.

Can I be evicted from my home if I defer my mortgage?

No. Deferral is an agreement with your lender to postpone payments, not a default on your loan. As long as you follow the deferral agreement and resume payments as scheduled, you cannot be foreclosed on. If you break the deferral agreement by not resuming payments when required, foreclosure becomes possible again.