Help with my Morgage Payments

RSISolutions · July 2017

I'm aware that the government offers help with mortgage interest payments (SMI).However, I'm wondering when this begins?

Consider a scenario where you have made an application for both contribution and income based ESA at the same time. You get awarded the contribution based ESA.

After 365 days you go onto the income based ESA. Do you then have to wait another 39 weeks from this date before you can claim SMI, or because you applied for the income based ESA, you can apply for SIM from the date which you first applied for IBESA?

BenefitsTrainingCo · July 2017

Hi @RSIsolutions

Great stuff on workplace adjustments by the way!

With Mortgage Interest payments, the amount you are entitled to increases your overall 'applicable amount' for the relevant benefit. Therefore, in the example you give above, provided the claimant met all the requirements for income-based ESA, the SMI would start after 39 weeks of the overall claim, as an 'income-based top-up' to the contributions amount.

The claimant needs to make it clear that the claim is for income-based and contributions-based, and needs to mention the mortgage - and I would say possibly request the form (I think its MI 12... MI something).

Hope this makes sense - let us know if you require any further clarification.

Kind regards,

Mary

RSISolutions · July 2017

Hi @BenefitsTrainingCo It has been more than 39 weeks since the start of the overall claim, but it's not yet 365 days since the start of the overall claim.

I was told that I would automatically be sent a form to claim help with my mortgage when I was entitled to it. But nothing was sent.

Two weeks ago I sent out the MI12 form you mention above as I wrote to the Benefits Centre to enquire about my entitlement to SMI and they sent me this MI12 form.

However, if what you are saying above is true, then I have missed out on a few weeks of SMI. Can I make a back claim?

RSISolutions · July 2017

According to the government web site I need to be on an Income Based Benefit before I receive the SMI support.
https://www.gov.uk/support-for-mortgage-interest/what-youll-get

https://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en/articles/government-help-if-you-cant-pay-your-mortgage#support-for-mortgage-interest

This means I wont be able to get it until after the 365 days is up. as this is when I will start to receive an income based ESA. Is this correct?

BenefitsTrainingCo · July 2017

Hi RSISolutions

As Mary says it's 39 weeks from the start of the claim and requires income related ESA not just contributory. But periods of time on contributory ESA DO COUNT towards the 39 if, with the SMI added in, it leads to an entitlement of income related ESA thereafter. This may sound complicated but to put it simply if contributory ESA is your only income then you will almost certainly qualify for the SMI after 39 weeks of contributory ESA and you won't have to wait a further 39 weeks after the 365 - does that make sense!?!

Once your claim has been processed including the MI12 form then your lender should be paid. We would expect this to include arrears going back to week 40 of your claim assuming you said you wanted to claim this help when you claimed in the first place.

If you are not happy with the decision when you get it you should request a mandatory reconsideration promptly and seek specialist help.

I hope this helps
David

RSISolutions · July 2017

OK. Thanks. This now makes more sense. I applied for income and contribution based ESA at the same time on the 12th of August 2016. I was told I was treated as entitled to both, but got given contribution ESA.

Then I went for the ESA health assessment and was told on the 2nd of April 2017 over the phone that I had failed it the assesment. The DWP put me through on the phone to another department to apply for job seekers. Unfortunately after waiting for someone to answer for ages, after they answered I got cut off immediately. I was in so much shock and stressed at having failed the ESA assessment I could not deal with ringing the DWP up again to begin a claim for job seekers for 2 days.

On the 5th of April 2017 I started to claim contribution based Jobseekers Allowance, Does this 2 day gap mean that my 39 weeks begins from when I started claiming Jobseekers?

I did a mandatory reconsideration and that was refused. I have now appealed the ESA and got put back onto ESA (with no gap this time between JSA and CBESA) while Im waiting for the appeal tribunal.

Incidentally, I was told over the phone by the DWP that the DWP would contact me when I was able to claim help with my mortgage, but they never did.

RSISolutions · July 2017

The other thing is that when I rang the DWP and asked when I could start claiming for SMI they told me it was 39 weeks after the Income Protection started. ie 39 week after the 365 days. The Citizen's Advice Bureau told me the same. This I now know from you is not correct.

BenefitsTrainingCo · July 2017

Hi RISSolutions

Generally gaps are a problem I'm afraid. But i suggest you keep on with your application.

David

Help with my Morgage Payments

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