How to Write a Hardship Letter That Gets Read (With Templates)

2 hours ago

7 min read

A hardship letter is a short, honest explanation of what went wrong and what you're asking for. Lenders, landlords and billing offices read a lot of them. The ones that work are specific, calm and easy to act on, and you can write one in under an hour.

AT A GLANCE

Lead with the ask. Say what you want (a lower payment, a pause, a payment plan) in the first two sentences.
Explain the change, not your whole life. The CFPB describes a hardship as a change, like job loss, disability, uninsured medical bills, divorce or a death, that cuts income or raises expenses.
Say whether it's temporary or permanent. Mortgage servicers and card companies use that to decide which option fits.
Attach proof. The Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac mortgage assistance form, for example, doesn't require documents for job loss or reduced income but does for divorce or a death.
Free help exists. A HUD-approved housing counselor can help you write a mortgage hardship letter at no cost.

Why the letter matters

When you ask for help, the person on the other end has to justify saying yes. Your letter is often the document that goes into the file.

For mortgages, the CFPB's homeowner guide says you "may need to provide a 'hardship letter' and proof of hardship to your servicer," and that the letter "should be detailed so your servicer can better understand your situation." Most mortgage assistance applications ask you to describe the change in your finances. That's what servicers mean by "hardship."

Credit card companies work the same way. The CFPB says to explain why you can't pay the minimum, how much you can afford, when you could restart normal payments and what new payment you're asking for, and for how long.

The best hardship letter answers four questions before anyone has to ask: what happened, when, how long it will last and what you can pay now.

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The five parts of a strong letter

Part	What to write	Length
1. The ask	The exact help you want and for how long	1–2 sentences
2. What happened	The event and the date it started	2–4 sentences
3. Temporary or permanent	When you expect things to improve, or that they won't	1–2 sentences
4. What you can pay	A real number you can keep paying	1–2 sentences
5. Proof and contact	List of attachments, your phone and best times to call	2–3 lines

Keep it to one page. Use your account or loan number at the top so the letter lands in the right file.

Words that help

Specific dates. "My hours were cut from 40 to 24 a week starting August 4" beats "I've had a hard time lately."
Real numbers. Give your new monthly income and the payment you can manage.
A plan. If you're starting a new job on a known date, say so.

Things to leave out

Blame and anger. They don't help the reader say yes.
Medical details. The Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac form says detailed medical information isn't required for a disability or illness hardship. "Serious illness requiring surgery" is enough.
Promises you can't keep. Ask for a payment you can make every month.

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Matching the hardship to the right option

The CFPB's homeowner guide explains that the choice depends on whether the hardship is temporary. A temporary hardship is one that ends within a few months with your income returning, like temporary unemployment or a natural disaster.

Your situation	Mortgage options the CFPB guide describes	What to ask a card company for
Short setback, money is back now	Reinstatement (repay the past-due amount)	Ask how to bring the account current
Temporary drop, income returns in a few months	Forbearance plan (reduced payment during the hardship)	Hardship program with a lower payment for set months
Long-term or permanent change	Loan modification, or leaving through a short sale or deed-in-lieu	Lower rate and payment over a longer time

The CFPB says card companies offer loss mitigation programs, sometimes called forbearance or hardship programs. These often let you postpone a set number of payments or pay less at a reduced rate until the balance is repaid. Get written confirmation of any arrangement.

What proof to attach

The Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac Mortgage Assistance Application (Form 710, April 2025) lists the documents it requires by hardship type. Other lenders often ask for something similar.

Hardship	Documentation listed on Form 710
Unemployment or reduced income	Not required
Higher housing costs outside your control	Not required
Disaster	Not required
Disability or serious illness	Your written statement or other documentation
Divorce or legal separation	Final decree or separation agreement, or recorded quitclaim deed
Death of a borrower or wage earner	Death certificate, or obituary or news article
Job transfer or military move	PCS orders, or an offer letter or employer notice

Even when hardship proof isn't required, your servicer will ask for income documents. The CFPB guide lists pay stubs, bank statements and benefit award letters as examples.

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Templates you can adapt

Fill in the brackets and delete anything that doesn't apply. Each template is one page or less once filled in.

Template 1: Mortgage servicer

[Date] Loan number: [number]. Property: [address] I'm writing to request [a forbearance plan / a repayment plan / a loan modification] because of a change in my income. On [date], [what happened, e.g., "my employer reduced my hours from 40 to 24 a week"]. My household income dropped from $[amount] to $[amount] a month. I expect this to be [temporary, ending around (date) / long-term]. I can currently pay $[amount] a month toward my mortgage. I want to keep my home and will send any documents you need. Attached: [pay stubs, bank statements, award letter, other]. You can reach me at [phone], best between [times]. [Name]

Template 2: Landlord or property manager

[Date] Unit: [address and unit] I'm asking for a payment plan for [month]'s rent of $[amount]. I can pay $[amount] now and $[amount] on [date(s)] until it's caught up. On [date], [what happened]. I have applied for [rental assistance program, if any] and will share the decision when I get it. I'd like to put this agreement in writing so we both have a record. I can be reached at [phone]. [Name]

Template 3: Credit card company

[Date] Account ending: [last four digits] I'm requesting a hardship program. Since [date], [what happened], and I can't make the minimum payment of $[amount]. I can pay $[amount] a month for the next [number] months. I expect to resume normal payments by [month/year] because [reason, e.g., "I start a new job on (date)"]. Please send written confirmation of any plan, including what happens when it ends. [Name, phone]

Template 4: Medical, utility or other bill

[Date] Account number: [number] I'm asking for [a payment plan / a review for financial assistance / a temporary hold] on my balance of $[amount]. On [date], [what happened]. My household of [number] now lives on $[amount] a month. I can pay $[amount] a month starting [date]. Please tell me in writing what you can offer and whether I should apply for any assistance program. [Name, phone]

Sending it

Before you call or send

☐ Your name, account or loan number and address are on the letter
☐ The ask is in the first two sentences
☐ Dates and dollar amounts are filled in and accurate
☐ Attachments are listed and included (copies, not originals)
☐ You signed and dated it
☐ You kept a copy, plus proof of how and when you sent it

Step by step

Call first to ask where hardship letters go: a mail address, fax, upload portal or email.
Send it the trackable way. Use the portal or certified mail when you can.
Write down every call: date, name and what was said.
Follow up in a week if you haven't heard back.
Get the result in writing before you change your payments.

For mortgages, the CFPB says you should also contact a HUD-approved housing counseling agency for free help. Its homeowner guide says a counselor can assist with your hardship letter. Form 710 lists HUD's counselor line, (800) 569-4287, and www.hud.gov/counseling. You can also call the Homeowner's HOPE Hotline at (888) 995-HOPE (4673), 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Watch for scams

The CFPB warns that you don't have to pay anyone to help you avoid foreclosure. Its warning signs include upfront fees, guarantees that your mortgage terms will change or that you won't lose your home, being told to stop paying or to send payments to someone other than your servicer and offers of a "forensic audit." For credit cards, it warns against companies that guarantee your debt will go away or tell you to stop talking to your card company.

WHAT TO DO THIS WEEK

Write down your numbers: income before and after the change, and what you can pay each month.
Gather proof for your type of hardship using the table above.
Draft your letter from the matching template and read it aloud once.
Call to ask where to send it, then send it in a way you can track.
Book a free counselor if it's your mortgage. Look up a HUD-approved agency near you.

Related help

For card and other unsecured debt, see our guide to free and low-cost debt relief help for nonprofit credit counseling. For a medical bill, start by checking your itemized hospital bill for errors. If your utilities are at risk, read what to do in the first 72 hours after a shutoff notice.

Official sources

Last checked: October 23, 2026 (CFPB mortgage options page, last reviewed Aug 28, 2026; CFPB credit card page, last reviewed Sept 2, 2026; CFPB homeowner guide; Form 710, April 2025).

Templates are starting points, not legal documents. Lenders and landlords set their own rules, so ask what they need before you send anything.