 TITLE: Can You Refinance a Mortgage in Forbearance? CONTENT: How Does Mortgage Forbearance Work?\n-----------------------------------\nMortgage forbearance is a process that allows you to pause or reduce your monthly mortgage payment for a set period, which can vary based on your situation and your lender.\nWhile forbearance can give you some temporary relief, it's not the same as forgiveness: Forbearance requires you to make up the payments you missed once the forbearance period ends.\nThe Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act allows homeowners with a federally backed mortgage to request forbearance for up to 18 months of total forbearance due to financial hardship.\nThe law applies to loans backed by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).\nIf you request forbearance under the CARES Act, you don't need to worry about providing documentation to prove your financial need—your claim of pandemic-related hardship is enough. There are no additional fees, penalties or interest associated with the process beyond the scheduled amounts. END