What Chase's Hardship Program Does

Chase Bank offers a hardship program for customers who are struggling to make their monthly payments on credit cards, personal loans, or other Chase products. The program is designed to provide temporary relief through modified payment terms, reduced interest rates, or fee waivers — not to forgive the debt itself. You contact Chase directly to request consideration, and the bank reviews your situation to determine what options might be available.

The program is not automatic. Chase does not advertise it heavily, and you must reach out to them. The bank will ask you to explain your financial hardship — job loss, medical emergency, divorce, or another significant event — and provide documentation. Based on what you tell them and what they can verify, they may offer you a plan that makes your payments more manageable for a set period, usually 3 to 12 months.

This is different from debt settlement or bankruptcy. You are still responsible for the full balance, but the terms change temporarily. Once the hardship period ends, your account returns to standard terms unless you renegotiate.

Key Takeaways

  • Chase's hardship program requires you to call the bank and request it — there is no online form or automatic process.
  • The bank will ask for proof of your hardship, such as a job loss letter, medical bills, or divorce decree, and may request recent pay stubs or bank statements.
  • Common modifications include lower monthly payments, reduced interest rates, waived late fees, or a pause on collections activity while you are in the program.
  • The hardship plan typically lasts 3 to 12 months, after which your account returns to its original terms unless you reach a new agreement.
  • Entering a hardship program may affect your credit score, but it is generally less damaging than missed payments or charge-offs.

How to Request a Hardship Plan

Call the phone number on the back of your Chase card or statement. Tell the representative that you are experiencing financial hardship and want to discuss your options. Do not wait until you have already missed a payment — calling before you fall behind gives you more negotiating power and more options.

Be prepared to explain what happened: a job loss, medical emergency, reduced hours, or another specific event. Vague statements like "I am having trouble" are less persuasive than "I was laid off on March 15 and have not found new work yet." Chase wants to understand whether your hardship is temporary or ongoing.

Have the following information ready when you call: your account number, your current monthly payment amount, your current balance, and your monthly income and expenses. The representative will use this to determine what kind of plan might work. If you do not have exact numbers, estimates are acceptable — you can provide documentation later.

Ask the representative to document the call in your account notes and to send you the proposed plan in writing before you agree to it. Do not accept a verbal agreement alone. The written plan should state the new payment amount, the interest rate (if changed), the length of the plan, and what happens when it ends.

What Documentation Chase May Request

Chase typically asks for proof that your hardship is real and recent. Common documents include a letter from your employer stating your termination or reduced hours, medical bills or an explanation of benefits from your insurance company, a divorce decree, or a notice of eviction or foreclosure. The bank wants to see that something specific triggered your financial difficulty.

You may also be asked to provide recent pay stubs (usually the last two months), a bank statement showing your current balance, and a list of your monthly expenses. Some representatives ask for a budget worksheet that shows your income and all your regular bills. If you are self-employed or have irregular income, bring tax returns or profit-and-loss statements from the last year.

You do not need to provide everything at once. Ask the representative which documents are required to move forward, and which are optional. Send what you have when ready and follow up with the rest within a few days. Delays in documentation can slow down the review process.

Types of Modifications Chase May Offer

Chase does not publish a fixed menu of options, so what you receive depends on your situation and the representative you speak with. However, common modifications include a reduced monthly payment (sometimes as low as 1 to 2 percent of your balance for a set period), a lower interest rate (sometimes a temporary 0 percent APR), a waiver of late fees that have already been charged, or a pause on collection calls and legal action while you are in the program.

Some plans combine these — for example, a lower payment plus a reduced rate for six months. Others may include a one-time fee waiver if you have been charged annual fees. The specifics vary based on your account history, how long you have been a Chase customer, and how much you owe.

Ask the representative what options are available for your specific account. If the first offer does not feel workable, ask whether other options exist. You have some room to negotiate, especially if you have been a good customer in the past or if your hardship is clearly temporary.

How a Hardship Plan Affects Your Credit

Entering a hardship program will likely show up on your credit report, and it may lower your credit score. However, the impact is usually less severe than missing payments, being sent to collections, or having a charge-off. The exact effect depends on your credit score before the plan, how much of your available credit you are using, and what other accounts are on your report.

Chase may report the account as "in forbearance" or "under hardship plan" to the credit bureaus. This signals to other lenders that you are working with the bank to resolve the debt, which is viewed more favorably than delinquency. Once the hardship period ends and you resume regular payments, the account will gradually recover.

If you miss payments before calling Chase or if you miss payments during the hardship plan, the damage to your credit will be much greater. The hardship program is meant to prevent that outcome, so it is worth requesting before you fall behind.

What Happens When the Hardship Plan Ends

When your hardship period expires — typically after 3, 6, 9, or 12 months — your account returns to its original terms unless you and Chase agree to extend or modify the plan. Your interest rate goes back to your regular APR, your monthly payment returns to the standard amount, and any waived fees are no longer waived. You will receive written notice of this change before it happens.

If you are still struggling financially when the plan ends, contact Chase again before you miss a payment. The bank may be willing to extend the plan or offer a different arrangement. However, there is no may provide — Chase reviews each request individually, and your circumstances at that time will matter.

If you have recovered financially and can resume regular payments, do so on time. Staying current after a hardship plan helps your credit score recover and keeps your account in good standing.

Alternatives If Chase Denies Your Request

Chase is not required to offer a hardship plan, and the bank may decline your request. If that happens, ask the representative why and whether there are any other options — sometimes a different department or a supervisor can offer something the first representative could not.

If Chase denies you, you have other paths. You can work with a credit counselor through the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC), a nonprofit organization that offers free or low-cost guidance on managing debt. A counselor can sometimes negotiate with Chase on your behalf or help you create a budget that allows you to keep paying.

You can also explore debt consolidation (combining multiple debts into one loan with a lower rate), a balance transfer to a card with a 0 percent introductory rate, or in severe cases, bankruptcy. These are more drastic steps and have their own credit consequences, but they may be necessary if hardship information is not available.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will a hardship plan hurt my credit score?

Yes, it will likely lower your score, but less than missing payments would. The hardship notation shows lenders you are working to resolve the debt. Once you resume regular payments after the plan ends, your score will gradually recover. Missing payments during the hardship period causes much more damage.

Can I explore for a hardship plan online?

No. You must call Chase directly. The phone number is on your statement or card. There is no online form or chat option for hardship requests. Speaking to a representative allows you to explain your situation and negotiate terms.

What if my hardship is permanent, not temporary?

Tell Chase that upfront. If your income has permanently decreased or you are permanently disabled, the bank may offer a longer plan or a different arrangement than it would for a temporary hardship. Be honest about your situation — the bank will find out anyway through documentation.

Can Chase take legal action against me while I am in a hardship plan?

Most hardship plans include a pause on collection calls and lawsuits, but this is not may provide. Ask the representative to confirm in writing that collection activity will stop while you are in the program. If Chase continues to pursue legal action, contact them when ready to clarify the terms of your plan.

Do I have to pay the full balance by the end of the hardship plan?

No. The hardship plan is temporary relief, not a path to forgiveness. At the end of the plan, you still owe the full remaining balance. Your monthly payment returns to normal, and you continue paying down the debt over time. If you cannot afford the regular payment when the plan ends, contact Chase again before you miss a payment.