Regarding SMI

We want to hear from you: please tell us about your experience of the online community.

heavenhelp

In receipt of SMI as a benefit prior to 7/07 2017 for more than 39 wks to cont getting as benefit
This is on the Government website

Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI) Overview What you'll get Eligibility How to claim Get other financial help with your housing costs 3. Eligibility To qualify for Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI) you must be out of work or of pension age. You also usually need to be claiming one of the following: Income Supportincome-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) Universal CreditPension Credit You might still be able to get SMI if you apply for one of the qualifying benefits but can’t get it because your income is too high. You’ll then be treated as getting the benefit you applied for. Contact the relevant office to check if you’re eligible for SMI. What type of SMI you can get

Whether you can get SMI paid as a benefit or as a loan depends on when you get, or are treated as getting, your qualifying benefit.

If you get Pension Credit

Your SMI will be paid as a benefit if you get Pension Credit before 6 April 2018.

It will be paid as a loan if you get Pension Credit on or after 6 April 2018.

If you get another qualifying benefit

Your SMI will be paid as a benefit if you get another qualifying benefit before 7 July 2017. You must have been getting the benefit for 39 consecutive weeks.

It will be paid as a loan if you get the qualifying benefit on or after 7 July 2017.

• Previous : What you'll get
• Next : How to claim

Print entire guide

Related content

• Mortgage Rescue Scheme
• Repossession

The Most Important parts which no body seems to refer to or talk about the Information on the Government website states which has been there since January 2018 at least maybe longer?

What type of SMI you can get

Whether you can get SMI paid as a benefit or as a loan depends on when you get, or are treated as getting, your qualifying benefit.

So what are the qualifying benefits?

These are:

• Income Support
• income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Universal Credit
• Pension Credit

It then goes on to say:

What type of SMI you can get

Whether you can get SMI paid as a benefit or as a loan depends on when you get, or are treated as getting, your qualifying benefit.

It further states:

If you get another qualifying benefit

Your SMI will be paid as a benefit if you get another qualifying benefit before 7 July 2017. You must have been getting the benefit for 39 consecutive weeks.

It will be paid as a loan if you get the qualifying benefit on or after 7 July 2017.

Based on the above I understand that my SMI should remain a Benefit because I was in receipt of Income related ESA prior to 7th July 2017 for more than 39 week. Are there any other people in the same position as myself? Has anyone got in touch with their MP, a Solicitor or a Barrister?If so please get in touch. 

Many Thanks

Heavenhelp

Lasian_Alumni

Hi @heavenhelp

I can see you have already seen our recent discussion about SMI and commented on it, and have a post in our ask a benefits advisor category. Have you had a look at our frequently asked questions about SMI page, including the part about getting advice on your personal situation?

Hopefully the benefits advisor will be able to comment soon, but they do have many requests for advice so there might be a bit of a wait.  In the meantime, other members may be able to comment on their own situations.

I hope this helps!