When a medical event is what put you behind
Roughly one in ten of the homeowners we speak with names a medical event as the reason. Servicers treat documented medical hardship as a legitimate category, and there are programs built for exactly this.
What you might be thinking
- I am on a fixed income now and it will not go back up
- I am still recovering and cannot deal with paperwork
- The bills are the problem, not the mortgage
All three come up on almost every call. None of them is a silly question.
What actually matters here
Document the hardship properly
A hardship letter that names the event, its dates, and its financial effect does more work than most people expect. If your income has permanently changed, say so clearly rather than implying a recovery that will not come.
Permanent change points to modification, not forbearance
Forbearance suits a hardship with an end date. If the income change is permanent, a modification that lowers the payment is the fit, and asking for the wrong one costs months.
You can authorize someone to speak for you
A third party authorization form lets a family member or advocate deal with the servicer on your behalf. If the phone calls are beyond you right now, this is the form to ask for.