 TITLE: How to Prepare for the End of COVID-19 Relief Programs CONTENT: What to Do if You Can't Pay Your Bills\n--------------------------------------\nIf you're worried about paying your bills once pandemic relief ends, don't wait until payments are due. Contact the creditor or service provider right away to explain your financial situation and discuss options.\nUse Experian's links to financial and non-financial institutions' relief measures to find your creditors or service providers and see if you can:\n*   **Get an extension.** If an extension on your benefits or loan suspension is available, find out if it's automatic or if you must apply. Complete any required applications immediately to avoid delays in processing.\n*   **Negotiate your payments.** Creditors may be willing to reduce your payments, change payment due dates to a better time of the month, or split big payments into multiple smaller ones (such as paying your rent biweekly instead of monthly).\n*   **Modify your loan.** Home loan borrowers in financial hardship may qualify for mortgage modifications such as a reduced interest rate or extended repayment term. If you have a federal student loan, you may be able to change your loan repayment plan.\n*   **Refinance your loan.** With interest rates at historic lows, borrowers with solid credit and income could refinance a mortgage, student loan or auto loan into a smaller, more manageable payment. By refinancing a federal student loan with a private lender, you'll lose the benefits federal student loans enjoy, such as the possibility of loan forgiveness and suspended payments under the CARES Act, but you may be able to reduce your monthly payments with a lower interest rate. END