Thousands more people claiming Universal Credit will be offered help towards mortgage interest as well as home improvements or repairs.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has announced the Support for Mortgage Interest loan scheme has been extended to a further 200,000 people on the benefit, in a measure aimed at helping more households with the cost of living. Claimants will be able to access financial help worth up to £200,000, the Daily Record reports.
Support will be automatically offered to qualifying claimants after three months on Universal Credit. Previously, claimants would need to have been unemployed for nine months before they could access a Support for Mortgage Interest loan, which helps them cover interest payments for a mortgage, or a home repairs and improvements loan, while they look for work.
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Another way eligibility rules have changed is that people no longer have to be unemployed to access the support. People will also be able to reclaim the support if they leave Universal Credit but return within six months.
Mims Davies, Minister for Social Mobility, Youth and Progression, said: “The fear of losing your home when you have fallen on difficult times is incredibly stressful and makes getting back on your feet all the more difficult.
“This increased support is an important lifeline to help provide stability for those who are seeking to find work and move back towards long-term prosperity.”
Support for Mortgage Interest loans can also help people to adapt their home for someone with a disability. DWP said that even if claimants reject the offer of a loan initially, as long as they are still eligible, they can start claiming it at any point.
The loan needs to be repaid when claimants sell their home, though it’s important to note that nobody will be asked to sell their home in order to repay it. If needed, claimants can contact the DWP about transferring the loan to a new home.
Support for Mortgage Interest payments are made directly to the lender every month. The UK Government is projected to have spent £28.5 billion supporting renters in 2022/23.
The support is available for people on the following qualifying benefits:
- Universal Credit
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Pension Credit
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