Can I ask to pause my payments?
If you need breathing space, many creditors can pause payments for a short time.
This guide helps you
- Understand what a payment pause is
- Know when a pause might help
- Learn how to ask for one
- Understand what happens to interest during a pause
- Find free help to arrange it
5 min
You're not alone
Sometimes you just need a short break to get back on your feet — after a job loss, illness, or an unexpected bill. Many creditors can offer a temporary pause (also called a moratorium or a payment holiday) as part of their hardship support.
This is general information, not financial advice. A free financial counsellor can help you request a pause — National Debt Helpline 1800 007 007.
When a pause can help
A pause may suit you if your difficulty is temporary and you expect things to improve — for example, you're between jobs or recovering from illness. It gives you room to stabilise without falling further behind on essentials.
A pause isn't always the best fit for every debt, so it's worth talking it through. You can look up terms like hardship and moratorium in our glossary.
Step by step
- Contact the creditor's hardship team and explain your situation.
- Ask for a temporary pause and say how long you think you'll need.
- Ask what happens to interest and fees during the pause — sometimes they keep accruing.
- Ask what happens at the end — will payments resume as before, or be spread out?
- Get the arrangement in writing.
Good to know
A pause can be a real relief, but check whether the debt will be larger when payments restart because of accrued interest. If you're unsure, a free financial counsellor can weigh up whether a pause, reduced payments or another option suits you best. If you feel overwhelmed, Lifeline 13 11 14 and Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636 can help.
Key takeaways
- Many creditors can pause payments temporarily as part of hardship support
- Always check what happens to interest and how payments resume
- Free financial counsellors can help arrange a pause on 1800 007 007
Frequently asked questions
Will interest keep building during a pause?
Sometimes. Some creditors freeze interest during a pause; others let it keep accruing, which makes the debt larger. Always ask directly so there are no surprises when payments resume.
How long can payments be paused for?
It varies by creditor and your circumstances. Explain how long you think you'll need, and ask what they can offer. A financial counsellor can help you request a realistic period.
What happens when the pause ends?
Ask the creditor in advance. Payments may resume as before, or the missed amounts may be spread across future payments. Getting this in writing helps you plan ahead.
This is general information, not legal or financial advice. Your situation is unique and rules can vary by state and over time — for advice on your circumstances, speak to a free financial counsellor (National Debt Helpline 1800 007 007) or get legal help.
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