Yes, you can defer a mortgage payment, but the lender decides whether to allow it
Deferring a home loan payment means postponing what you owe this month to the end of your loan term—not skipping it or paying less. Your lender is not required to let you do this. Some will, some won't, and the ones who will often have strict rules about how many times you can defer, how long you can defer for, and what happens to the interest you owe.
The key difference between deferral and forbearance: forbearance pauses your payment temporarily while you work out a longer plan; deferral tacks your payment onto the back end of your loan, so you pay it later instead of now. Both require your lender's permission, and both affect your credit report if they're reported as a hardship arrangement.
Key Takeaways
- Mortgage deferral moves your payment to the end of your loan term, not to next month—you still owe it, just later.
- Your lender controls whether deferral is an option; some allow it once or twice, others never, and some charge a fee.
- Deferral reported to credit bureaus as a hardship will lower your credit score, though less severely than a missed payment.
- If your lender won't defer, forbearance, loan modification, or refinancing are separate paths worth exploring with your servicer.
- Contact your loan servicer (the company that collects your payment, not the original lender) to ask about deferral options before you miss a payment.
How mortgage deferral works in practice
When you defer a payment, your servicer adds that month's principal and interest to your loan balance. If you defer $1,500 in March, your loan balance grows by $1,500, and you'll pay that $1,500 back over the remaining life of the loan—not as a lump sum at the end, but spread across future monthly payments.
This means your total interest cost rises, because you're borrowing that deferred amount for longer. A $1,500 deferral on a 30-year mortgage at 6% interest will cost you roughly $3,200 by the time you pay it off, depending on how many years remain. The servicer will send you a new amortization schedule showing the adjusted balance and new payment amount.
Most servicers allow deferral only once per year or once per loan lifetime. Some allow it for one month only; others permit two or three consecutive months. Read your loan documents or call your servicer to find out what your specific mortgage allows before you ask.
When your lender will and won't allow deferral
Conventional loans (sold to Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac) have deferral options built into their servicing guidelines, though the specifics vary by investor and loan age. FHA loans allow deferral under certain conditions. VA loans have their own deferral rules. Jumbo loans and portfolio loans held by smaller banks or credit unions may not offer deferral at all—it depends entirely on the lender's policy.
Your lender is most likely to approve deferral if you have a solid payment history, the hardship is temporary, and you can resume normal payments afterward. If you've already missed payments or are in default, deferral becomes less likely; your servicer may push you toward forbearance or a loan modification instead.
Some servicers charge a deferral fee—typically $50 to $300—to process the request. Ask about this upfront. If your loan is backed by a government agency (FHA, VA, USDA), fees are usually lower or waived.
How deferral affects your credit score
If your servicer reports the deferral to the credit bureaus as a hardship arrangement, your credit score will drop. The size of the drop depends on your current score and credit history, but expect a 50- to 100-point decline. This is less severe than a missed payment (which can drop your score 100 to 200 points), but more damaging than a simple late payment that you catch up on within 30 days.
Not all servicers report deferral to the bureaus. Some treat it as an internal accommodation and don't flag it. Call your servicer and ask directly: "If I defer a payment, will you report it to the credit bureaus?" Get the answer in writing if possible, because it changes whether deferral is worth the credit hit.
Once the deferral is complete and you've resumed normal payments, the notation will stay on your credit report for seven years from the date of the first missed payment (if one occurred) or from the deferral date itself. This affects your ability to refinance, take out new credit, or get favorable rates during that period.
Deferral versus forbearance versus modification
These three options sound similar but work very differently. Deferral moves one or more payments to the end of your loan. Forbearance pauses your payments for a set period (usually 3 to 12 months) while you and your servicer work out a longer-term solution—a modification, refinance, or repayment plan. Modification permanently changes your loan terms: lower interest rate, longer term, or capitalized arrears (adding what you owe to the balance).
If you need relief for one or two months and expect to resume normal payments, deferral is simpler. If you need breathing room to figure out a bigger plan, forbearance is the right first step. If your payment is genuinely unaffordable and you want to stay in the home, modification is the long-term answer.
Ask your servicer which option they recommend for your situation. Some servicers will only offer one; others will let you choose. If your servicer won't defer, ask about forbearance or modification as alternatives.
Steps to request a deferral from your servicer
Call the customer service number on your mortgage statement. Have your loan number, current balance, and a brief explanation of your hardship ready. Ask: "Can I defer my next payment?" If the answer is yes, ask how many payments you can defer, whether there's a fee, and whether it will be reported to credit bureaus.
Request a written confirmation of the deferral agreement before your payment is due. This should include the deferred amount, the new loan balance, the new payment amount (if it changes), and the date the deferral takes effect. Do not rely on a verbal agreement; servicers change staff and policies, and written proof protects you if there's a dispute later.
If your servicer denies deferral, ask why and what alternatives they offer. If they say your loan type doesn't allow it, ask them to send that in writing. Then contact a HUD-approved housing counselor (free through HUD's website) to review your options; they may know workarounds or programs specific to your state or loan type.
What happens if you can't get deferral approved
If your servicer won't defer, forbearance is usually the next option. Forbearance pauses your payment for a few months while you stabilize your finances or explore other solutions. It's easier to get approved for than deferral because it's temporary and doesn't change your loan balance immediately.
Loan modification is another path: you can ask your servicer to lower your interest rate, extend your term, or add arrears to your balance. This is a permanent change, not temporary relief, and it requires a formal application. Modification takes longer to process (often 30 to 90 days) but solves the affordability problem if deferral won't work.
Refinancing is an option if you have equity and your credit is still decent. You take out a new loan to pay off the old one, ideally at a lower rate or longer term. This requires a new application and appraisal, so it's not fast, but it gives you a fresh start if rates have dropped or your financial situation has improved.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does deferring a payment mean I don't have to pay it?
No. Deferral moves the payment to the end of your loan term. You still owe it, and you'll pay it back over time as part of your regular payments. The amount is added to your loan balance, so you pay interest on it.
Can I defer multiple payments in a row?
Most servicers allow deferral of one to three consecutive months, but policies vary widely. Some allow only one deferral per year; others allow one deferral per loan lifetime. Call your servicer to find out your loan's specific limit before you request.
Will deferring hurt my credit score?
Only if your servicer reports it to the credit bureaus as a hardship arrangement. Some servicers don't report deferral at all. Ask your servicer directly whether they will report it before you agree to defer. If they will, expect a 50- to 100-point drop.
What if I defer and then can't resume payments?
If you defer and then miss the resumed payment, your servicer will treat it as a missed payment and may start the default process. Deferral only works if you can actually resume normal payments afterward. If you can't, ask about forbearance or modification instead.
Is deferral the same as skipping a payment?
No. Skipping a payment without permission is a missed payment and damages your credit immediately. Deferral is an agreement with your servicer to move the payment to later. Always get written approval before you skip any payment.