 TITLE: What Is a Credit Card Hardship Program? CONTENT: How to Apply for a Credit Card Hardship Plan\n--------------------------------------------\nTo apply for a credit card hardship plan, visit the card issuer's website to see if they offer financial hardship plans. You may be able to apply online; for example, Chase allows you to enroll online to defer one payment if you've been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. In most cases, however, you'll need to call your card issuer to discuss options with a customer support agent.\nFirst, create a budget so you know how much you can afford each month. Be ready to explain the reason for your financial situation, such as:\n*   Job loss\n*   Pay cut\n*   Divorce\n*   Serious illness\n*   Natural disaster\nDon't wait until you've missed a payment to investigate credit card hardship plans. Under the CARES Act, any account that has a payment accommodation applied to it must be reported to credit bureaus as current if it was current when the accommodation was made. This applies to any accommodation made before 120 days from the date the COVID-19 national emergency is declared over. END