What are your options if you can't afford debt relief payments?

MoneyWatch: Managing Your Money What are your options if you can't afford debt relief payments? We may receive commissions from some links to products on this page. Promotions are subject to availability and retailer terms. .chip { background-image: url('/fly/bundles/cbsnewscore/images/chip-bgd/chip-bgd-moneywatch.jpg'); } By Angelica Leicht Angelica Leicht Senior Editor, Managing Your Money Angelica Leicht is the senior editor for the Managing Your Money section for CBSNews.com, where she writes and edits articles on a range of personal finance topics. Angelica previously held editing roles at The Simple Dollar, Interest, HousingWire and other financial publications. Read Full Bio Angelica Leicht April 27, 2026 / 11:23 AM EDT / CBS News Add CBS News on Google If you can't afford your debt relief payments, it's important to find a new route to relief quickly. Seksan Mongkhonkhamsao/Getty Images Things aren't particularly easy for borrowers right now, and that's especially true for those carrying a revolving balance month to month. Between today's high borrowing costs, persistent (and rising) inflation pressures and record levels of household and credit card debt, budgeting for both the costs of essentials and debt payments has become a difficult balancing act for many Americans. And, that's even true for some who took proactive steps to enroll in a debt relief program.While those borrowers were hoping to regain control, they may now find their monthly debt relief payments harder to manage than expected. That shift isn't exactly unusual, though. Debt relief plans are often built around structured payments designed to settle or repay balances over time, but those plans don't always account for issues like sudden income changes, higher living expenses or unexpected financial emergencies. So, what felt manageable at the time of enrollment can become strained just months later.Falling behind on a debt relief plan doesn't mean you're out of options, though....