Advice on Backdating an SMI Claim

okerho

I'm assisting a family member through some of their problems.
I would really appreciate a little advice please, Im not quite sure what to do now.

Basically, she was a self employed person for many years.
Working very long hours and under very stressful conditions.
Over the years she had a couple of small mental health problems, which she dismissed and continued to work through.
The final nail in the coffin was her business collapsing which lead to a severe nervous breakdown,
Since then (approx 9 months) she has been on employment and support allowance.
More recently her health has improved enough for her to begin addressing some of her affairs with my help.

We are about to submit (the smi) forms to assist with mortgage interest payments
I have noticed that the claim should have been made 3 months into her claiming esa, that was 6 months ago.
However due to her mental state at the time she was incapable of making sensible decisions or completing paperwork; her doctor is aware of the situation and has offered to write a letter to support this fact.
What will be the correct procedure to get the claim backdated from the date she was eligible?

Would appreciate any advice / feedback
All the best

okerho

tr82

The mortgage office ought to have been writing to your family member from week 9 of her claim. That's when they normally send out the first MI12 form for her to use to claim SMI.

They normally send a reminder or two out. When no replies come back they either abandon the mortgage side of the claim or suspend benefit until the MI12 is provided ... sounds more like they've abandoned things totally.

Your best getting parts 1-6 of the MI12 completed, but writing a request on it for backdating too, explain about her mental health being poor over the last few months and see if that's enough for them to backdate to week 13. Send the form off to the lender, they'll fill out parts 7-9 and they'll send it back to DWP for processing.

Your family member will have the right of appeal if they decide not to backdate.