Yes, you can defer a mortgage payment, but it depends on your lender and your situation

Deferring a single mortgage payment for one month is possible with most lenders, but it is not automatic. Your lender will not skip the payment on their own — you have to ask, and they have to agree. The process usually takes a phone call to your loan servicer (the company that collects your payments, which may or may not be the bank that originally gave you the loan). What happens to that skipped payment varies: some lenders add it to the end of your loan, some spread it across future payments, and some require you to pay it back in a lump sum within a set timeframe.

The reason this matters is that a deferred payment is not forgiven. You still owe it. The lender is straightforward rearranging when you pay, not erasing the debt. If you cannot afford the payment this month but can afford it next month, deferral might work. If you cannot afford it this month or next month, you need a different option.

Key Takeaways

  • Contact your loan servicer directly by phone to request a one-month deferral — this is not something you can do online or by mail in most cases.
  • A deferred payment is added to your loan balance or collected later; it is not erased, so you will pay it eventually with interest.
  • Lenders are more likely to grant a deferral if you have been current on payments and can explain a temporary hardship, such as a job interruption or medical expense.
  • A single-month deferral typically does not appear on your credit report, but multiple deferrals or a pattern of late payments will.
  • If you cannot pay next month either, ask about forbearance or loan modification instead of deferring, because those programs are designed for longer hardships.

How to request a one-month deferral from your lender

Call your loan servicer's customer service line. You can find this number on your mortgage statement, on the back of your payment coupon, or on the servicer's website. Have your loan number and account information ready.

Tell them you are requesting a one-month payment deferral and explain why — a temporary job loss, an unexpected medical bill, a car repair that depleted your savings. Lenders are more willing to grant deferrals to borrowers with a clean payment history who can point to a specific, temporary reason for the hardship. If you have been late before or have missed payments, mention that you are current now and want to stay that way.

Ask these three questions before you agree: (1) Will the deferred payment be added to my loan balance, spread across future payments, or due in a lump sum? (2) When is it due, and what happens if I cannot pay it by then? (3) Will this deferral be reported to the credit bureaus? Write down the answers and the name of the person you spoke with.

What happens to the payment you defer

Most servicers handle a deferred payment in one of three ways. The most common is to add it to your loan balance — so if you defer a $1,500 payment, your remaining loan balance increases by $1,500, and you will pay interest on that amount for the rest of the loan. This means the deferral costs you money in the long run, but it spreads the burden across many months.

Some lenders will spread the deferred amount across your next several payments instead. If you defer $1,500 and your regular payment is $1,500, your next payment might be $1,750 (your regular payment plus $250 of the deferred amount), and the following three payments might each be $1,583. This gets the deferred payment collected faster but raises your payment temporarily.

A smaller number of lenders require a lump-sum repayment within 30 to 90 days. This is the riskiest option for you because if you could not afford the payment this month, you may not be able to afford a double payment next month either. Ask about this before you agree to the deferral.

When a one-month deferral will and will not hurt your credit

A single deferred payment usually does not show up on your credit report if you stay current after that. Your credit score is based on whether you pay on time, and a deferral that you complete on the agreed schedule counts as on-time payment. The lender may note it in your account history, but that does not affect your score.

However, if you defer a payment and then miss the rescheduled payment (or the lump-sum repayment date), that missed payment will be reported as late. If you defer multiple payments in a row or defer payments repeatedly over several months, that pattern can appear on your credit report and lower your score. The key is that deferral only protects your credit if you follow through on the repayment plan.

Deferral versus forbearance versus modification

These three options sound similar but work very differently. A deferral is a one-time or short-term pause on one or a few payments, and you repay the deferred amount on a schedule the lender sets. A forbearance is a longer pause — usually three to twelve months — where your payment is reduced or paused entirely, and the deferred amount is typically added to the end of your loan. A loan modification is a permanent change to your loan terms, such as a lower interest rate or a longer repayment period, which lowers your monthly payment going forward.

If you need help for just one month and expect to be back on track, deferral is the right tool. If you need help for several months or longer, ask about forbearance. If your payment is unaffordable even when things return to normal, ask about modification. Many lenders will not discuss modification unless you have already tried forbearance, so start with what you actually need.

What to do if your lender denies the deferral request

Some lenders deny deferral requests, especially if you have missed payments before or if you cannot explain the hardship clearly. If you are denied, ask why. The answer will tell you what option might work instead. If they say you are not current, you may need to catch up before they will defer. If they say you do not may have access to for deferral but might may have access to for forbearance, ask about that program instead.

You can also contact a HUD-approved housing counselor for free. These counselors work with lenders on behalf of borrowers and sometimes can negotiate a deferral or forbearance that the borrower could not get alone. Find a counselor through the HUD website or by calling 1-800-569-4287. The counselor does not charge you and does not work for the lender.

Preparing for the deferred payment when it comes due

Once you have agreed to a deferral, mark the repayment date on your calendar when ready. Set a reminder for two weeks before it is due. If the deferred payment is being added to your loan balance or spread across future payments, your next statement will show the new payment amount — check it carefully to make sure it matches what you were told on the phone.

If the deferred payment is due as a lump sum, start setting aside money now if you can. Even if you can only save a portion of it, having something ready reduces the risk of missing the important date. If you realize before the due date that you cannot pay, call your servicer again and ask about forbearance or modification. Do not wait until you miss the payment to ask for help.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will deferring one payment hurt my credit score?

No, not if you complete the repayment plan on time. A deferred payment that you repay as agreed does not appear as late on your credit report. Your score only suffers if you miss the rescheduled payment or the lump-sum due date.

Can I defer my mortgage payment if I am already behind?

It depends on the lender and how far behind you are. If you are one or two months behind, some lenders will work with you on a deferral or forbearance plan that includes catching up. If you are further behind, the lender may require you to bring the account current first or may push you toward a loan modification instead. Call and ask.

What if I defer one month but then cannot afford the payment the next month?

Call your servicer before the rescheduled payment is due and ask about forbearance or modification. Do not wait until you miss the payment. Lenders are more willing to work with you if you reach out proactively, and these longer-term programs are designed for situations where one month of help is not enough.

Does deferring a payment delay my loan payoff date?

Yes, usually. If the deferred payment is added to your loan balance, you are extending the loan by the time it takes to pay that extra amount. If it is spread across future payments, the payoff date shifts slightly. Ask your servicer how the deferral affects your payoff date before you agree.

Can I defer a payment if I have a government-backed loan like FHA or VA?

Yes, but the process and rules vary by loan type. FHA loans, VA loans, and USDA loans all have deferral and forbearance programs, but they work differently than conventional loans. Call your servicer and ask specifically about options for your loan type, or contact a HUD-approved counselor who can explain the programs available to you.