If you’re behind on your mortgage and searching for Gwinnett County mortgage help, you’ll usually hear two early options from your servicer: a repayment plan or a forbearance. They sound similar, but they work very differently. Choosing the right one depends on your timeline and whether your income is stable again.

What is a repayment plan?

A repayment plan is a structured way to catch up on missed payments by adding a set amount to your regular monthly payment for a period of time. Your servicer spreads the past-due amount out so you can bring the loan current without paying everything at once.

A repayment plan is usually a better fit when:

• Your income is back to normal (or close to it)
• The hardship was temporary
• You can afford a higher payment for a short window

What is forbearance?

Forbearance is temporary relief. Your servicer may pause payments or reduce them for a set period, and then you resume regular payments afterward. Forbearance can be helpful when your hardship is still happening and you need breathing room.

Forbearance is usually a better fit when:

• You’re still in the middle of the hardship (job change, medical event, divorce transition)
• You need short-term relief to avoid falling further behind
• You expect the situation to improve within months

Repayment plan vs forbearance: the real difference

The simplest way to think about it:

• Repayment plan = catch up while paying your normal payment, plus extra
• Forbearance = pause or reduce now, then deal with the missed amount later

What to ask the loss mitigation department (copy these questions)

• What option do I qualify for right now: repayment plan, forbearance, or loan modification?
• If I take forbearance, what happens at the end? Do I repay in a lump sum, add it to the loan, or enter a repayment plan?
• If I take a repayment plan, what will my monthly payment be during the catch-up period?
• Are there any deadlines or notices I should know about right now?
• What documents do you need from me, and where should I upload them?