If you are a homeowner and you get certain
income-related benefits, you may qualify for help towards your
housing costs, which includes mortgage interest payments and
certain other home owner costs such as common repair charges levied
by a factor. The help with mortgage interest is called Support for
Mortgage Interest (SMI) and is usually paid direct to the
lender.
To qualify for help with home owner's housing costs
(including SMI) you must get one of the following benefits:
• Income Support (IS)
• Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (ibJSA)
• Employment and Support Allowance (irESA)
• Pension Credit (PC)
SMI can help you pay all or part of the interest on
your mortgage payments but it will not help you pay off the capital
of your mortgage. You may also be able to get SMI to help pay the
interest on loans you took out for essential repairs or
improvements to your home including adaptations.
SMI cannot be used to pay off the capital amount you
borrowed, anything towards insurance policies you have (such as
endowment premiums) or mortgage arrears. When you apply for one of
the benefits in the list above you will need to include information
about your mortgage and housing costs in order to get the extra
payments. You will have to provide proof of your income, details of
your financial situation and any related paperwork. Your lender
will have to complete some of the forms confirming the details of
your loan. If you are already receiving these benefits but are not
getting any help towards your housing costs, contact your local
Jobcentre Plus office and ask them to send you a form.
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