Pausing card payments for three months still lets interest accrue on the balance

A worked example uses a $4,100 card balance at 18.9% APR, paid at $230 a month. Pausing payments for three months lets interest keep building, adding about $197 to the balance. Resuming at the original payment pushes the payoff back by roughly four months and raises total interest by $81 beyond the accrued amount. Raising the monthly payment to about $250 to $260 after the pause largely or fully offsets the extra cost. The article notes that some hardship programs freeze interest during a pause, so cardholders should check with their issuer.