Writing a Hardship Letter Single Parent

The finances of a single parent are incredibly complex. Many struggle financially, particularly if the other parent of the children had suddenly left, or had suddenly stopped providing child support payments. If this happens to you, and you have financial obligations, you may want to write a hardship letter single parent.

Describe Your Goal in Writing the Hardship Letter

Your letter should start by explaining what you are hoping to achieve. For instance, you may request debt forgiveness, delay payments, restructure a payment plan, avoid foreclosure, or consolidate your loan. You also have to make sure that you provide clarity on which financial obligation you are experiencing difficulty in paying, such as medical bills, credit cards, car loans, personal loan, or mortgage.

Highlight the Fact that You Are a Single Parent

You should then highlight that you are a single parent and provide details of your children. Make sure that you include their names and dates of birth, so that it is clear how many children you are caring for as well. You should then explain that the children’s other parent is no longer reachable and that you are not receiving child support payments. Stress whether or not such payments have been received before. Make it clear that your income (specify your income) is not sufficient to provide your children with the necessary home, food, and shelter.

Explain Why You Did Not Experience Difficulties Before

Go on to explain why you did not have difficulties in the past. Perhaps you had a high enough salary, but now have been forced to accept a reduction in hours. Perhaps the other parent sent child support payments in the past. Perhaps one of your children has had a change of circumstances. For instance, a particular child may require special care, is moving to college, or has been diagnosed with a disability or illness. Explain that these circumstances have placed you in some difficulty and that, since your children come first, you want to do whatever you can to make sure they get what they need.

Ask the Creditor for Assistance

Last but not least, ask your creditor for assistance and to understand the difficult situation you have found yourself in. Make sure that you attach any documented proof of the problems you are facing, such as letters from school, income stubs, bank statements, mortgage statements, and doctors’ letters. Detail your circumstances as much as possible and, if you want your mortgage to be deferred, highlight that you do want to remain in your property. Don’t forget to include a plan of action to be able to repay the debt that you now owe. Lastly, make it clear what you are actually asking for – stopping payments altogether, having lower monthly payments, freezing the interest rates, and so on.

Creditors understand that negative situations do happen. If you can demonstrate that you have done all you can to ameliorate the situation, that there have been circumstances beyond your control, and that you are not spending on frivolities like vacations and other non-essential bills, then it is likely that your creditor will consider your request.

Hardship Letter Single Parent Example

{Your Name}
{Your Address}
{Your Phone #}

{Date}

To Whom It May Concern:

To Whom It May Concern:

I am writing to try to {consolidate my loan, avoid foreclosure, restructure a payment plan, delay payment, request debt forgiveness} for {my mortgage, my personal loan, car loan, credit card bill, medical bill etc.}.
I am a single parent to {number} children: {Name}, aged {age} and {Name}, aged {age}. Their {father/mother} is not in the picture and stopped paying the court-mandated child support on {date}. Therefore, I have been providing a home, food and shelter for them on one income of {amount} per year.

In the past, my salary has been enough to adequately provide for my children. However, as of {date}, {new circumstance such as child going to college, child being diagnosed with illness/disability, child requiring special care}. This has put me in a difficult situation, as my children come first in my life and I would do anything to make sure they’re cared for.

I would like to ask your assistance in this difficult situation. I have attached {doctor’s note/bank statement/income stub/letter from school} detailing my circumstances. {If this is for a mortgage, specify whether you’d like to stay in your home, or whether the home is up for sale already. For any other loan, come up with some sort of plan for repayment, such as lower payments each month, a lower interest rate, etc., and suggest it here.}
I am hoping that we can work out some sort of solution as quickly as possible. Please contact me immediately so that we can begin this process.

Sincerely,

{Sender Name}