What the Chase Hardship Program Does

Chase's hardship program is a set of options the bank offers to cardholders who are struggling to make payments. If you contact Chase and explain that you're facing financial difficulty—job loss, medical emergency, divorce, or another setback—they may lower your interest rate, reduce your monthly payment, waive fees, or pause your account temporarily. Chase does not forgive the debt; you still owe what you borrowed. But the program can make the debt manageable while you recover.

The program exists because Chase knows that a cardholder who stops paying entirely costs them more than one who pays something, even if that something is smaller. You have to reach out first. Chase will not offer this on its own.

What you receive depends on your situation, your account history, and what you ask for. There is no single "Chase hardship program"—it is a framework that gives Chase employees room to negotiate with you.

Key Takeaways

  • You must call Chase directly to request hardship options; the bank will not offer them without you asking.
  • Common options include lowered interest rates, reduced monthly payments, waived late fees, or a temporary pause on your account.
  • Chase will likely ask for proof of your hardship—recent pay stubs, a termination letter, medical bills, or a divorce decree.
  • Any agreement you reach should be confirmed in writing before you rely on it.
  • Hardship programs may affect your credit score, but missing payments will damage it more.

When to Call Chase and What to Say

Call Chase as soon as you know you cannot pay your bill on time. Do not wait until you are 30 days late. The sooner you contact them, the more options they have to work with you. If you are already behind, call when ready anyway—late is better than silent.

Have your account number ready and a clear explanation of what happened. "I lost my job last month" or "I had unexpected medical bills" is enough. You do not need a long story. Be honest about when you think you can resume normal payments. If you say you will be back on track in three months, Chase will structure the agreement around that timeline.

Ask specifically what they can do. You might say: "I cannot make my full payment this month. Can you lower my interest rate or reduce my payment temporarily?" This gives them a clear direction instead of leaving it vague.

Documents Chase May Ask For

Chase will often ask you to prove the hardship is real. What they request depends on the reason. Keep these documents handy if you are about to call:

  • Job loss: A termination letter from your employer, or a recent pay stub showing zero hours.
  • Reduced income: Recent pay stubs showing lower pay, or a letter from your employer explaining the cut.
  • Medical emergency: Hospital bills, doctor invoices, or a letter from your provider explaining the treatment.
  • Divorce or separation: A signed divorce decree or separation agreement.
  • Death in the family: A death certificate or funeral bills.

You do not have to provide documents on the phone. Chase may ask you to mail or upload them later. Ask what format they need and whether you can send them electronically.

What Chase Can Offer You

Chase has several tools it can use. You may receive one, a combination, or none—it depends on your account and your situation.

Interest rate reduction: Chase may lower your APR for a set period, usually three to twelve months. This reduces what you owe in interest while you catch up. A reduction from 24% to 12% cuts your interest charges in half.

Payment reduction: Instead of your normal minimum payment, Chase may let you pay a smaller amount for a few months. This frees up cash now, but you will still owe the full balance later.

Fee waiver: Chase can remove late fees, over-limit fees, or annual fees that have already posted to your account. They cannot waive interest that has already accrued.

Account pause: In rare cases, Chase may agree to pause your account—no interest accrues, no payments are due—for 30 to 90 days while you stabilize. This is uncommon and usually only for cardholders with otherwise good payment history.

Debt management plan: Chase may refer you to a nonprofit credit counselor who can negotiate a formal plan with the bank. This is more structured than a phone call and creates a written agreement.

How a Hardship Agreement Works

Once you and Chase agree on terms, ask for a written confirmation. This might be a letter, an email, or a note in your account. Do not rely on a verbal promise. The confirmation should state:

  • The new interest rate (if lowered) and how long it lasts.
  • The new payment amount (if reduced) and for how many months.
  • Which fees are waived.
  • When the agreement ends and what happens next.
  • What happens if you miss a payment during the agreement.

Make your payments on time, even if they are smaller. A missed payment during a hardship agreement can void the deal and trigger late fees and rate increases.

When the agreement ends—say, after six months—your account returns to normal terms unless you negotiate again. If you are still struggling, call Chase before the agreement expires to discuss what comes next.

How This Affects Your Credit Score

A hardship program will likely lower your credit score, but the damage is usually less than what happens if you stop paying. Here is why:

If you miss a payment, Chase reports it to the credit bureaus as a late account. A 30-day late mark stays on your credit report for seven years and can drop your score 100 points or more. A hardship agreement does not automatically trigger a late mark if you stay current on the new payment terms.

However, if Chase closes your account as part of the agreement, or if you had already missed a payment before calling, that negative mark is already there. The hardship program cannot erase it, but it can prevent new damage.

Once you complete the hardship agreement and resume normal payments, your score will gradually recover. On-time payments rebuild credit faster than anything else.

What Happens If You Cannot Stick to the Agreement

If you miss a payment during the hardship period, contact Chase when ready. Do not wait. Explain what happened and ask if they will extend the agreement or modify it. Many cardholders face a second setback during the first one, and Chase knows this.

If you cannot recover, you have other options. You might explore a debt management plan through a nonprofit credit counselor, or you might consider whether bankruptcy makes sense for your situation. These are separate from the hardship program and have their own rules and costs.

Do not ignore the account. Silence makes it worse.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will Chase forgive part of my debt if I ask for hardship?

No. Hardship programs reduce your payment or interest rate, but you still owe the full balance. Chase may forgive a fee or two, but not the principal. Debt forgiveness is rare and usually only happens in bankruptcy or after an account has been charged off and sold to a debt buyer.

Can I use the hardship program more than once?

Yes, but it becomes harder each time. If you completed one agreement and are struggling again a year later, Chase will listen. If you are asking for a third or fourth modification, they may decline and suggest other options instead.

What if I have multiple Chase cards?

You can request hardship terms on each card separately, but Chase will likely treat them as one account if they are linked to the same person. Call and explain your overall situation, and ask what they can do across all your cards.

Does calling about hardship hurt my credit right away?

No. The call itself does not affect your score. Only missed payments, late marks, and account closures show up on your credit report. Calling to prevent those things is the right move.

What if Chase says no?

If Chase declines to modify your account, ask why. If it is because you have missed too many payments already, ask whether they will work with a credit counselor. If they straightforward will not budge, you can try calling back and speaking to a different representative, or you can explore other options like a debt management plan or bankruptcy consultation.