Need Help Paying Bills? Try These Resources

Need Help Paying Bills ASAP? Use This Quick-Help Tool

Use this guide to learn what assistance is available and identify what to deal with first.

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Edited by other Updated Sep 29, 2025 When the money you’ve got just won’t go far enough, you need to know how to strategically pay some bills — and minimize the fallout from not paying them all. Let's get straight to the help. Use the tool below to find help with the bills you can't pay.

Prioritize your bills

First, protect the essentials. These include shelter, food, heat, lights, transportation and whatever else you need to be able to work, such as child care and phone service. (Learn how to lower those bills.) What’s not essential? Everything else. Your credit may suffer if you have to let some bills go unpaid — but you can rebuild your credit later. For now, focus on the basics. » MORE: Why is my electric bill so high? » MORE: You may need to move if you can’t afford where you’re living. There’s an exception to this rule, however. If you can’t afford your mortgage payment, you may want to stay put. The foreclosure process typically takes several months, which means you could stay in your current home for free while you try to fix the rest of your financial life.

Know what happens when you can't pay a bill, and seek help

Virtually any skipped payment hurts you somehow. You may pay fees or end up with negative marks on your credit report. But there’s a big difference between missing a credit card payment and missing one for, say, child support. More serious consequences might include wage garnishment, having utility services disconnected or eviction. Use the tool above to see how long you’ve got on each type of bill before consequences begin. You’ll also find resources, where applicable, that might help you find some breathing room.

What to do if you can't catch up on your bills

While working hard to get caught up on your bills, you may come to the realization that the effort is ultimately hopeless. Perhaps you're just too far behind. In that case, you may consider bankruptcy or entering a debt management plan. A visit with a nonprofit credit counselor or a bankruptcy attorney can help you determine the best options available, and initial consultations are typically free. Here’s how to get started: Visit the National Foundation for Credit Counseling’s locator website to find a counselor near you. Learn how to find the right bankruptcy attorney. If you are sued for the debt, it’s important to show up in court — otherwise a default judgment will be entered against you that can lead to wage garnishment and raids on your bank account. Many states allow you to be arrested for failing to respond to a court order to appear about a debt. Explore more on About the author CFP® Liz Weston, CFP®, is a former NerdWallet personal finance columnist and co-host of the "Smart Money" podcast. She is an award-winning journalist and author of five books about money, including the bestselling "Your Credit Score." Liz has appeared on numerous national television and radio programs, including the "Today" show, "NBC Nightly News," the "Dr. Phil" show and "All Things Considered." Her NerdWallet columns were carried by The Associated Press, appearing in hundreds of media outlets each week. Prior to NerdWallet, she wrote for MSN, Reuters, AARP The Magazine and the Los Angeles Times. Published in 13 Ways to Lower Your Electric Bill Bill Negotiation: Get a Better Deal on Cable, Internet and More 7 Ways to Lower Your Cell Phone Bill 9 Ways to Lower Your Cable Bill How to Lower Your Bills: 45 Ways to Save By Kelsey Sheehy, Laura McMullen, Tiffany Curtis Bill Negotiation: Get a Better Deal on Cable, Internet and More By Tiffany Curtis, Lisa Mulka It’s on You to Figure Out How to Cancel Subscriptions By Tommy Tindall