What Chase's Hardship Program Does

Chase's hardship program is a formal option you can request if you're struggling to pay your credit card balance. When you contact Chase and explain your situation — job loss, medical emergency, divorce, or another significant hardship — the bank can modify your account terms. This might mean lowering your interest rate, reducing your monthly payment, waiving fees, or pausing interest accrual for a set period.

The program does not erase what you owe. It restructures the debt to make payments manageable while you recover. Chase reviews each request individually, so approval depends on your specific circumstances and account history, not a formula.

You must contact Chase directly to request this. The bank does not automatically place you in the program, and you cannot access it through the mobile app or online portal.

Key Takeaways

  • Chase's hardship program requires you to call the bank and explain your financial situation; you cannot request it online.
  • The program can lower your interest rate, reduce your monthly payment, waive late fees, or pause interest for a defined period.
  • Approval is not may provide and depends on your account history and the details of your hardship.
  • The modified terms typically last 3 to 12 months, after which your regular terms resume unless you request another extension.
  • Entering the program may affect your credit score temporarily, but it is often better than missing payments or defaulting.

How to Contact Chase and Request the Program

Call the phone number on the back of your Chase credit card. Tell the representative that you are experiencing financial hardship and want to discuss your options. You will likely be transferred to a specialist team that handles these requests.

Have the following information ready before you call: your account number, the reason for your hardship (be specific — job loss, medical bills, reduced income), how long you expect the hardship to last, and what payment amount you can realistically afford each month. The more detail you provide, the better Chase can tailor a solution.

The call typically takes 20 to 40 minutes. The representative will review your account, ask questions about your income and expenses, and then tell you what options are available. You may be offered a single plan or given a choice between two or three modifications.

What Modifications Chase May Offer

Chase most commonly offers one or more of these changes:

  • Interest rate reduction: Your APR is lowered for the duration of the program, sometimes to 0% depending on your situation and account standing.
  • Lower monthly payment: Your required payment is reduced to a fixed amount you can afford, often based on a percentage of your balance or a set dollar figure.
  • Fee waiver: Late fees, over-limit fees, and annual fees are waived during the program period.
  • Interest pause: Interest stops accruing for a set number of months, though your balance remains and you still make payments.

You will not receive all of these at once. Chase typically combines two or three modifications into a single plan. For example, you might get a reduced interest rate plus a lower monthly payment, or a payment reduction with fees waived.

The plan is offered for a specific term — usually 3, 6, or 12 months. At the end of that period, your account reverts to standard terms unless you request an extension or negotiate a new arrangement.

What Happens to Your Credit Score

Entering Chase's hardship program will likely lower your credit score in the short term. The bank reports the modified account to credit bureaus, and the notation may appear on your credit report. However, this impact is usually smaller than the damage from missed payments, late payments, or defaulting on the account.

Once you complete the program and resume regular payments, your score will begin to recover. The hardship notation typically remains on your report for several years, but its weight decreases over time as you build a record of on-time payments.

If you do not enter the program and instead miss payments, your credit score will drop much more severely and stay damaged longer. From a credit perspective, requesting hardship information is often the better choice.

What You Must Do During the Program

Make every payment on time, in the amount agreed to. Missing even one payment can end the program and return your account to standard terms, sometimes with additional penalties.

Do not use the card to make new purchases during the program period. Most hardship agreements require you to stop charging while the modified terms are in effect. Using the card can trigger cancellation of the plan.

If your situation changes — your income improves, or your hardship worsens — contact Chase to discuss whether the plan needs adjustment. Do not wait until you miss a payment to reach out again.

When Chase May Deny Your Request

Chase is not required to place you in a hardship program. The bank may decline if your account is already in default, if you have recently completed a hardship program with Chase, or if your account history shows a pattern of missed payments unrelated to a single hardship event.

If your request is denied, ask the representative what options remain. You may be able to negotiate a one-time payment arrangement, request a lower interest rate without a formal hardship plan, or discuss a settlement if your account is severely delinquent.

You can also call back and speak with a different representative. Decisions are not always consistent, and a second request may be reviewed differently.

Alternatives If Hardship Program Is Not Right for You

If Chase denies your request or the hardship program does not fit your situation, other options exist. You can negotiate a settlement directly with Chase — offering a lump sum to close the account for less than you owe. You can also explore credit counseling through a nonprofit agency, which may help you create a debt management plan or negotiate with creditors on your behalf.

If you have multiple debts beyond the Chase card, debt consolidation or a debt management plan may address your situation more broadly than a single hardship modification. A nonprofit credit counselor can review your full picture and recommend the best path forward.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will the hardship program stop me from being sued by Chase?

No. Entering a hardship program does not prevent Chase from filing a lawsuit if you default. However, the program is designed to prevent default by making payments manageable. As long as you make the agreed payments, you remain in good standing and a lawsuit is unlikely.

Can I get out of the hardship program early if my situation improves?

Yes. If your financial situation improves before the program ends, you can contact Chase and request to return to standard terms. Your interest rate and payment will revert to the original agreement. There is no penalty for ending the program early.

What happens after the hardship program ends?

Your account returns to its original terms — your regular interest rate, standard minimum payment, and normal fees resume. If you cannot afford the regular payment at that point, contact Chase again to discuss options, though approval for a second program is not may provide.

Does the hardship program affect other Chase accounts I have?

Not directly. The program applies only to the specific credit card account you request it for. However, Chase may review your overall relationship with the bank, and hardship status on one account may influence decisions on other accounts.

Can I negotiate the terms of the hardship plan, or is it take-it-or-leave-it?

You can ask questions and discuss the offer, but Chase typically presents a single plan based on its assessment of your situation. If the payment amount is still too high, say so — the representative may have some flexibility to adjust it slightly, but major changes are unlikely.