What Chase Bank's Hardship Program Does

Chase Bank's hardship program is a formal process that lets you contact the bank and ask for relief on credit cards, personal loans, or mortgages when you're facing a temporary financial crisis. The bank doesn't automatically lower your payment or forgive debt — you have to request it, explain your situation, and wait for a decision. If approved, Chase may lower your monthly payment, reduce your interest rate, pause late fees, or restructure your loan, depending on what you owe and why you can't pay.

The program exists because Chase knows that some borrowers hit real obstacles — job loss, medical emergency, divorce, natural disaster — and that working with you costs less than sending your account to collections. But Chase decides whether to help, not you. The bank will ask for proof of your hardship and details about your income and expenses. They're looking for evidence that you're in genuine trouble and that you have some ability to pay something.

Key Takeaways

  • You contact Chase directly by phone, mail, or through your online account to request hardship relief — the bank does not reach out to you first.
  • Chase will ask you to describe your hardship, provide recent pay stubs or tax returns, and explain your monthly budget before making a decision.
  • Approval typically takes two to four weeks, and the bank may offer a temporary plan (usually three to twelve months) rather than permanent changes to your loan.
  • Hardship plans may lower your payment or interest rate, but they usually appear on your credit report and may affect your credit score in the short term.
  • If you're behind on payments, contact Chase before the account goes to collections, because options narrow once that happens.

How to Request Hardship Relief from Chase

Call Chase's hardship department directly. The phone number is on the back of your card or in your online account under "Contact Us." Tell the representative that you're experiencing financial hardship and want to discuss your options. They will transfer you to a specialist or schedule a callback — do not try to negotiate with a regular customer service representative.

Have the following information ready: your account number, a brief explanation of what happened (job loss, medical bills, reduced hours, divorce settlement), the date the hardship began, your current monthly income (from all sources), and a list of your major monthly expenses (rent or mortgage, utilities, food, insurance, childcare). Chase will also ask for recent documentation — usually a pay stub from the last 30 days, a tax return from the last year, and sometimes a bank statement showing your current balance.

You can also request hardship relief by mail. Send a letter to the address on your statement marked "Hardship Request" with the same information. Mail is slower — expect four to six weeks instead of two to four — but it creates a paper record. Keep a copy for yourself.

What Types of Relief Chase May Offer

Chase's hardship options vary by account type. For credit cards, the bank may offer a lower interest rate (sometimes as low as 0%), a reduced monthly payment, a pause on late fees, or a combination. For personal loans, Chase typically restructures the loan — extending the term to lower the monthly payment or reducing the interest rate. For mortgages, options include loan modification (changing the terms), forbearance (pausing payments temporarily), or a repayment plan to catch up on arrears.

Most hardship plans are temporary, lasting three to twelve months. At the end, your original terms usually return unless Chase agrees to make the change permanent. Ask the representative what happens when the plan ends and whether you can request an extension if you're still struggling. Get the terms in writing before you agree — do not rely on a verbal promise.

Chase may also require you to close the account or stop using the card while you're on a hardship plan. This is common for credit cards. Ask whether closure is required and what it means for your credit report.

What Happens to Your Credit During a Hardship Plan

A hardship plan will likely appear on your credit report as a "deferred payment arrangement," "payment plan," or "account in forbearance," depending on the type of relief. This notation signals to other lenders that you're not paying the original terms, and it can lower your credit score in the short term — usually by 50 to 150 points, though the exact impact varies.

However, a hardship plan is better for your credit than missing payments or going to collections. If you're already behind, accepting a plan stops the damage from getting worse. Once you complete the plan and resume regular payments, the notation will age and matter less. After seven years, it falls off your report entirely.

If you're current on your account and request hardship relief before missing a payment, the credit impact is usually smaller. This is why contacting Chase early — as soon as you know you're in trouble — matters.

When Chase May Deny Your Request

Chase can refuse your hardship request if the bank believes you have the ability to pay your current obligations. If your income is stable and your expenses are manageable, Chase may say no. The bank may also deny relief if you've recently received a hardship plan on the same account — most programs allow only one plan per account per year.

If your account is already in collections or has been charged off (written off as a loss), Chase's hardship department may not help. At that point, you're dealing with a collections agency or a debt buyer, not Chase directly. If you're facing collections, contact Chase when ready to see whether hardship relief is still an option.

Denial doesn't end your options. You can reapply if your circumstances change, or you can explore other paths: credit counseling through a nonprofit agency, debt consolidation, or negotiating a settlement. But hardship relief through Chase is usually the fastest and least damaging option if you can get it.

Hardship Plans vs. Other Debt Relief Routes

A Chase hardship plan is different from bankruptcy, debt settlement, or credit counseling. A hardship plan is an agreement between you and Chase — it doesn't involve a third party, it doesn't require you to stop paying other debts, and it doesn't appear on your credit report as a legal filing. It's also faster and cheaper than bankruptcy or settlement negotiation.

If Chase denies your request or if you owe money to multiple creditors, you might explore nonprofit credit counseling. A counselor can review your full situation and help you decide whether a hardship plan, debt management plan, or another option makes sense. Counseling is free or low-cost through agencies certified by the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC). You can find a local agency at nfcc.org.

If you're behind on multiple accounts and hardship relief isn't working, bankruptcy is a legal option, but it's a last resort. It stops collections when ready and can erase or restructure debt, but it stays on your credit report for seven to ten years and has serious long-term costs. Talk to a bankruptcy attorney before considering it.

What to Do If Chase Approves Your Plan

Once Chase approves your hardship plan, you'll receive a written agreement by mail or email. Read it carefully. Confirm the new payment amount, the interest rate, the length of the plan, and what happens when it ends. Make sure the terms match what the representative told you.

Set up automatic payments for the new amount if possible. Missing a payment on a hardship plan can end the agreement and send your account back to collections. If you can't make a payment, contact Chase when ready — don't wait for a late notice.

Keep records of every payment you make. Take screenshots of online payments or keep copies of canceled checks. If a dispute arises later, you'll have proof that you held up your end of the agreement.

As the end date of your plan approaches, contact Chase again if you're still struggling. You may be able to extend the plan or negotiate new terms. If your situation has improved, resume your original payments on schedule.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will a hardship plan stop my account from going to collections?

Yes, if you're approved before the account is charged off or sent to collections. Once an account reaches collections, Chase usually can't help you — you'll be dealing with a collections agency instead. This is why calling Chase as soon as you know you're in trouble is critical.

Can I use a hardship plan on multiple Chase accounts at the same time?

You can request relief on multiple accounts, but Chase evaluates each one separately. You might be approved for a credit card hardship plan but denied for a personal loan, depending on the account history and your circumstances. Ask the representative about each account.

What if my hardship plan ends and I still can't pay?

Contact Chase before the plan expires and ask about an extension or a new plan. If Chase denies another plan, you can explore other options: debt settlement (negotiating a lower payoff amount), credit counseling, or bankruptcy. The sooner you act, the more options remain open.

Does a hardship plan mean I have to close my credit card?

Chase may require you to close the account or stop using it while the plan is active. Ask the representative whether closure is required and whether you can reopen it after the plan ends. Some plans allow you to keep the account open but frozen.

How long does it take Chase to decide on my hardship request?

Decisions usually come within two to four weeks if you explore by phone or online. Mail requests take four to six weeks. Chase may ask for additional documentation, which can extend the timeline. Follow up if you haven't heard back after four weeks.