At the request of a borrower impacted by COVID-19, the servicer must provide an initial forbearance plan for a period up to 180 days, and that forbearance period may be extended for up to an additional 180 days at the request of the borrower. In accordance with Servicing Guide D2-3.2-01, Forbearance Plan, the servicer may provide an initial forbearance period, and any extended forbearance period, in separate, shorter increments. If the borrower’s COVID-19 related hardship has not been resolved during an incremental forbearance period, the servicer must extend the borrower’s forbearance period, not to exceed 12 months total. For a borrower impacted by COVID-19, Fannie Mae is temporarily eliminating the requirement that the servicer must receive Fannie Mae’s prior written approval for a forbearance plan that would result in the mortgage loan becoming greater than 12 months delinquent.
See below for more information on COVID-19: