The Finance Algorithm
§ Tool · tier 1 · independent

Hardship Payment Calculator.

Plan for temporary reduced loan payments during financial difficulty

CalculatorFree, no signupOn-deviceupd May 2026
Inputs
Your numbers
$
$15k

Amount remaining on your personal loan

$
$400

Your current monthly payment

%
10%

Your current loan rate

36

Months left on your current loan

$
$200

Maximum you can pay during hardship period

3

How long do you expect the difficulty to last?

Documenting the cause strengthens your hardship application

Math updates live as you change inputs · AI runs on submit

Awaiting inputs

Move the sliders or type in the form on the left — the math updates live as you go. Click Get AI verdict when you want a written analysis.

Facing temporary financial difficulty? Lenders have hardship provisions to help. This calculator shows how reduced payments affect your loan and helps you understand your options for getting through tough times.

§ Worked examples

Real-world scenarios

Job Loss Recovery

Janet lost her job. She has $18,000 remaining at 11%, paying $450/month with 48 months left. Can only afford $150/month for 4 months.

Inputs

balance:18,000payment:450reduced:150months:4

Paying $150 for 4 months adds ~$600 to total interest and extends loan by 3 months. Much better than defaulting.

Medical Recovery

David is recovering from surgery. $12,000 at 10%, paying $280/month. Needs 2 months interest-only ($100/month).

Inputs

balance:12,000payment:280reduced:100months:2

Two months interest-only adds $360 to loan and extends by 1.5 months. Very manageable recovery.

§ FAQ

Questions Australians ask

§ Glossary

Plain-English definitions

Hardship Variation
A temporary change to your loan terms due to financial difficulty - legally required for lenders to consider.
Payment Pause/Deferral
Temporarily stopping payments entirely. Interest still accrues and must be repaid later.
Interest-Only Payments
Paying just the interest during hardship - balance stays the same but doesn't grow.