The number of deferrals depends on your loan type and lender, not a fixed federal limit
There is no single answer because mortgage servicers set their own deferral policies. A conventional loan might allow two to three deferrals in a 12-month period, while a Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loan or Veterans Affairs (VA) loan may permit more. Your servicer's own guidelines, combined with the terms of your specific loan agreement, determine what you can request.
The confusion comes from mixing up two different things: how many times you can ask, and how many times you will be approved. You can request a deferral as often as your circumstances change. Whether your servicer grants it depends on whether you meet their criteria at that moment — typically, that you are behind on payments or facing a documented hardship, and that you have not already used up your allotment for that period.
What matters more than the count is the total amount of time you can push payments forward. Most programs cap the total deferred amount at three to six months of payments, regardless of how many separate deferrals that takes. Once you hit that ceiling, you cannot defer again until the deferred payments are added back into your loan.
Key Takeaways
- Your lender sets the maximum number of deferrals allowed, usually between two and four per year, and this varies by loan program and servicer.
- The real limit is often the total dollar amount deferred — typically three to six months of payments — not the number of times you request one.
- Deferred payments are added to the end of your loan or spread across future payments; they do not disappear.
- After you use your deferrals, you must resume full payments or explore other options like loan modification or forbearance.
- Your loan documents and servicer's website are the only reliable sources for your specific deferral count; calling to ask is faster than searching online.
How servicers count deferrals differently
A deferral is a one-time postponement of a payment or group of payments. Some servicers count each month you skip as one deferral. Others count each request as one deferral, even if you defer three months in a single request. This distinction matters because it changes how quickly you exhaust your limit.
If your servicer counts by month, deferring three months of payments uses three of your allotted deferrals. If they count by request, the same three months counts as one. You will not know which method applies until you call or read your loan documents. The servicer's website usually has a FAQ or policy page that spells this out, though the language is often dense.
Government-backed loans have published limits. FHA loans allow up to two deferrals per 12-month period under standard forbearance, but the total deferred cannot exceed six months of payments. VA loans typically permit up to two deferrals per 12-month period as well. USDA loans follow similar rules. Conventional loans have no federal standard — your lender decides.
What happens to deferred payments after you use them
Deferring a payment does not erase it. The amount you skip gets added back into your loan in one of three ways: tacked onto the end of your loan (extending your payoff date), spread across your remaining payments (raising your monthly amount slightly), or collected in a lump sum when you refinance or sell. Your servicer will tell you which method applies to your loan when you request the deferral.
This matters because it affects whether you can defer again. Some servicers will not grant another deferral until the previous deferred amount has been paid back or worked into your payment schedule. Others allow concurrent deferrals as long as you stay within the total cap. The distinction is important: if your servicer requires the first deferral to be resolved before granting a second, you may have a longer wait than you expect.
When you have used up all your deferrals
Once you hit your servicer's limit, you cannot defer again until the deferral period resets — usually 12 months from your first deferral request. At that point, you have other options: forbearance (a temporary pause on payments, typically three to 12 months), loan modification (changing the terms of your loan to lower the payment), or a repayment plan (adding a portion of the missed amount to each future payment).
Forbearance is not the same as deferral. Forbearance typically does not have a per-year limit the way deferrals do, but it can damage your credit score and may require you to repay the full amount in a lump sum when the forbearance ends. Loan modification is slower but permanent — it rewrites your loan terms and usually does not require a lump-sum repayment.
If you are in a pattern of needing deferrals every few months, a loan modification or refinance may be a better long-term move than cycling through deferrals. A servicer's loss mitigation department can discuss which option fits your situation.
How to find your specific deferral limit
The fastest way is to call your servicer directly. Have your loan number ready and ask: "How many times can I defer a payment in a 12-month period, and what is the maximum total amount I can defer?" Write down the answer and ask them to note it in your file. A phone call takes five minutes; searching online often leads to general information that does not explore to your loan.
Your loan documents — the promissory note and deed of trust or mortgage — may also spell out deferral limits, though they are usually buried in dense language. Your servicer's website often has a policy page under "Forbearance" or "Payment Options" that lists the rules. If you received a notice about COVID-era payment relief, that document may also state your deferral allowance.
If you are behind on payments, your servicer is required to send you a notice explaining what options are available to you, including deferrals. That notice should include the number of deferrals you are may have access to to. Keep that document — it is your proof of what was offered.
Deferrals across different loan types
| Loan Type | Typical Deferral Limit | Maximum Total Deferred | Who Sets the Rules |
|---|---|---|---|
| FHA | Up to 2 per 12 months | 6 months of payments | Federal Housing Administration |
| VA | Up to 2 per 12 months | 6 months of payments | Veterans Affairs |
| USDA | Up to 2 per 12 months | 6 months of payments | USDA Rural Housing Service |
| Conventional | Varies by lender | Varies by lender | Your servicer |
| Jumbo | Varies by lender | Varies by lender | Your servicer |
Government-backed loans have published limits because the government insures them. Conventional and jumbo loans have no federal standard, so your servicer's internal policy is the only rule. Some large servicers (Rocket Mortgage, Fidelity, Wells Fargo) publish their policies online; others do not.
What usually goes wrong with deferrals
The most common mistake is assuming you can defer indefinitely. Once you hit the limit, you cannot defer again for 12 months, even if your hardship continues. If you are facing a long-term income loss, deferral alone will not solve the problem — you need a loan modification or refinance to actually lower your payment.
The second mistake is not asking about the total deferred amount. A servicer might say "you can defer twice a year" but not mention that the total cannot exceed four months. You could use up your entire annual allowance in a single request and then have no deferrals left for the rest of the year. Always ask for both numbers: the count and the cap.
The third mistake is deferring without understanding how the deferred amount will be handled. If it is tacked onto the end of your loan, your payoff date moves back and you pay more interest. If it is spread across future payments, your monthly amount goes up. Neither is free — you are borrowing the money, not erasing it. Make sure you can afford the outcome before you request the deferral.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I defer a payment if I am not behind yet?
Most servicers require you to be at least one payment behind or facing an imminent hardship to request a deferral. Deferring a payment you could make is not typically allowed. If you see hardship coming, contact your servicer early to discuss forbearance or loan modification instead — those options do not require you to miss a payment first.
Does deferring a payment hurt my credit score?
Yes. A deferral is reported to credit bureaus as a delinquency or forbearance arrangement, which lowers your score. The damage is usually less severe than a missed payment, but it is still reported. Your score may recover once you resume regular payments, but the deferral will remain on your credit report for seven years.
What if my servicer says I have no deferrals left but I still cannot pay?
Ask about forbearance, loan modification, or a repayment plan. These are separate from deferrals and have their own rules and limits. Forbearance can buy you time without using up deferrals. Loan modification can lower your payment permanently. A repayment plan spreads the missed amount across future payments without extending your loan term.
Do deferrals reset every calendar year or every 12 months from my first request?
It depends on your servicer. Some reset on January 1; others reset 12 months from your first deferral request. Ask your servicer which method they use. This matters because it determines when you become may be able to access for another deferral.
Can I defer a payment on a second mortgage or home equity line of credit?
Deferral policies for second mortgages and HELOCs are set by the lender, not by federal rules. Some allow deferrals; others do not. Contact your lender directly to find out what options are available. Forbearance may be available even if deferral is not.