There are companies who can help or assist you with consolidations but I would recommend you do it yourself. It will take some time waiting on the phone but it will be worth it. You may not get the result you want with the first call but something can always be worked out.
In this environment we are in, it is not only the consumer that is having cash flow problems but the credit card company themselves. They all want your money and if you call in and can get the right person to speak with, you should get some positive results.
Before calling in, you should have an idea of what you want to accomplish. The goal should be a payment plan that will fit into your budget. Assuming your income is back to normal and you are just behind a few months, try to get the credit card company to "recast" your credit card back to a current status without coming up with the payments in arrears. The credit card company will want at least a payment to get you back into a current payment status before putting you in a current payment status. Some credit card companies may even put your account temporarily at 0% interest rate.
Now, if your income is reduced permanently, then you need to put a budget on paper to see what you can reasonably afford. That means take you take home income after taxes and subtract on the necessities: mortgage/rent, car payment and insurance, utilities, and money for food. Take the amount that is left over, and divide that with the number of credit cards that you have. This is the goal you are shooting for, and when you talk with the credit card company, the representative may actually ask you for all this information anyways.
There are some situations where you can actually ask for a forbearance such as your student loans. Just ask if it is available on your credit card and what the requirements are to qualify.
If you are in the military, you can let the credit card company know you want to take advantage of the sailors and soldiers relief act.
The Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief Act (SSCRA) of 1940 is essentially a reenactment of the 1918 statute. Experience during World War II and subsequent armed conflicts made certain changes in the statute necessary. The first of these amendments became law in 1942. In amending the Act, Congress was motivated, in part, by the desire to override court decisions that, in some instances, had led to restrictive interpretations of the Act. The latest amendment occurred in 1991 as a result of Desert Shield/Storm.
Reservists and members of the National Guard (when in active federal service) are also protected under the SSCRA. SSCRA (for all) begins on the first day of active duty, which means when the person ships out to basic training (Basic Training, and job-school are considered active duty for Guard and Reserve personnel, as well as active duty personnel). Some protections under the act extend for a limited time beyond active duty discharge or release but are tied to the discharge/release date. Additionally, some of the Act’s protections extend to the members’ dependents.
Whenever you get a payment plan or arrangement set up with the credit card company, please be sure to get it in writing. This will avoid any misunderstandings and protect you in the future in case the representative you worked with is no longer with that company.
One thing I would like to say most people would not agree with is don't access your IRAs, 401Ks, or other retirement accounts to pay off your credit card accounts or loans. Those are long term savings that should be left alone until you are ready to retire. It may be tempting to pull out those funds, but there are tax implications that will work against you.
If you have no income after your home payment and the basic necessities to take care of your family, then you might want to consider seeing an attorney in regards to filing bankruptcy. This is not an easy thing to do, but you should put your pride aside and make sure taking care of your family is the number priority.