Credit cards & borrowing

For qualifying debt taken on before service, interest and covered fees above 6% are forgiven, not postponed. Payments must be lowered to reflect that relief. The cap generally lasts through service, and for qualifying mortgages it lasts through service plus one year.

The member, or the member and spouse together, took on the debt before qualifying military service and the interest rate is above 6%.

Send written notice and a copy of orders or other proof of service no later than 180 days after leaving service. A creditor may also confirm service through the Defense Manpower Data Center.

Check eligibility → estimate → prepare the request

A creditor or insurer generally cannot deny or cancel credit or insurance, change the terms, or make a negative credit report solely because a servicemember asked for or received certain SCRA protections. Regular payment duties still apply.

The member asks for or receives certain SCRA protection involving a delay, pause, or postponed payment.

No advance request is needed. Save statements and messages, because they may help if you report a suspected violation.

Learn what applies → gather documents → contact an official help source

A member may ask a court to set a payment schedule or pause collection when military service seriously affects the ability to pay a debt, tax, or contract.

The member applies during service or within 180 days after leaving service. The debt or contract began before service, or the tax became due before or during service.

Ask a court for this protection.

Review the requirements → get help

A covered contract penalty does not keep growing while the court case is paused. A court may also reduce or remove a fine or penalty when military service seriously affected the member's ability to perform the contract.

A court has paused the contract case, or a contract penalty arose during service because service interfered with performance.

You may need to ask a court.

Check the dates → get help