URGENT Changes to Morgage Interest Support [merged]

dave030445

What i think for wants its worth. If that if you are on ESA you should get your SMI paid at what your mortgage interest is (not over or under paid because this is unfair) this is because these people have to go through as we have heard on hear quite a hard medical assment (if you pass it that and your not disabled good on you). As its been proven that you can work. Now for the people on other benifits that you dont need a medical for i understand that it is hard to fine a job in these hard times but there are jobs out there. You should have your SMI limit for 1 or 2 years there is no reson why you can not get a job in that time (if you want one)the trouble is people are getting more money sitting on there backsides playing ps3. But if you where given a date well inadvance that all your payments would stop they would get a job. The money that the goverment would save would be loads.

Tara100

lurkerlurk wrote: »

Apparently ESA claimant who are paid ESA(C) at the same rate as ESA(IR) should never have been paid SMI.

Waiting to see if people currently being paid will now have this withdrawn.

Hello Lurker

Would you mind expanding on the above please?

The abbreviations you have used....Are they in place of 'contributions' and 'income' based ESA?

Sorry I'm guessing here


Tara

dave030445

Tara100 wrote: »

Hello Lurker

Would you mind expanding on the above please?

The abbreviations you have used....Are they in place of 'contributions' and 'income' based ESA?

Sorry I'm guessing here


Tara

yes it is ive seen it before

[Deleted User]

dave030445 wrote: »

What i think for wants its worth. If that if you are on ESA you should get your SMI paid at what your mortgage interest is (not over or under paid because this is unfair) this is because these people have to go through as we have heard on hear quite a hard medical assment (if you pass it that and your not disabled good on you). As its been proven that you can work. Now for the people on other benifits that you dont need a medical for i understand that it is hard to fine a job in these hard times but there are jobs out there. You should have your SMI limit for 1 or 2 years there is no reson why you can not get a job in that time (if you want one)the trouble is people are getting more money sitting on there backsides playing ps3. But if you where given a date well inadvance that all your payments would stop they would get a job. The money that the goverment would save would be loads.

upto the late 1990s the interest was paid at the individual borrowers rate not a general rate

killearn

21st Century Welfare

Response by the Council of Mortgage Lenders
to the Department for Work and Pensions Consultation Paper

Support for homeowners
22.
As part of its wider welfare reforms, we would recommend that government gives further consideration to paying SMI at the actual rate being paid by the borrower, rather than at an arbitrary level. Our concern is that borrowers who benefit most from SMI, i.e. those on the highest rates of interest and who are also the most vulnerable (impaired credit and debt consolidation).

Lee123

I too have had my S M I halved! As my mortgage is set at 6%. If it wasn't for my father I would lose my home, now I can't afford the payments, I could barely before! I am a single parent (my children's father has died) we where divorced. But my father has said that he could invest some money in my house and bring the morgagage down. Do you think the jsa would allow this?

Thanks for any advice

Tara100

Lee123 wrote: »

I too have had my S M I halved! As my mortgage is set at 6%. If it wasn't for my father I would lose my home, now I can't afford the payments, I could barely before! I am a single parent (my children's father has died) we where divorced. But my father has said that he could invest some money in my house and bring the morgagage down. Do you think the jsa would allow this?

Thanks for any advice

Ooh, complicated......
Sorry to sound pessimistic, but if the benefits agency can't get the average mortgage assistance claim right.....

I would test the water with your mortgage lender first, and secondly, go and get some good advice from folks who REALLY know the benefits system inside out (not necessarily CAB - from past experience, my faith in them isn't strong)


Tara

Lee123

Hi Tara thanks for your reply. Do you mean some legal people who may know the benefits system? Maybe I should just call the JCP direct?

Thanks again x

Tara100

Lee123 wrote: »

Hi Tara thanks for your reply. Do you mean some legal people who may know the benefits system? Maybe I should just call the JCP direct?

Thanks again x

Re, calling JCP.....It depends on who calls you back to be honest.....The person who records your initial enquiry won't be able to help there and then, but they will ask someone in the relevant dept to look into your case and call you back (normally within 24 hrs)

You just have to hope that whoever does call you back is very knowledgeable regarding the mortgage rules (some advisors are much better than others)

Personally, I thought it might be better to be armed with some definite info / answers yourself before calling them, so that you won't end up in knots

Good luck and let us know any outcomes

devastated22

Just over 2 yrs ago my husband collapsed at work with a Brain Haemorrage. It was a miracle he survived it but it has left him with so many disabilities, Epilepsy, Brain Damage loss of communication etc etc that he can never work again. He has always been hardworking and was 57 when this tragedy struck. He is now 59 i am 62 . I gave up my job to become his full time carer. As I receive my pension I could not claim carers allowance. I was advised to apply for pension credit which after a lot of stress i finally received. I get 10p a week Pension credit but what it did mean I could get help with our morgage interest. I was just keeping our heads above water until Saturday when the letter arrived telling me they have halved my interest help. I now do not know where to turn. Our Morgage is on a fixed rate at 6.4% so I now have to try and find another £130 a month immediately.
I do understand how some people feel why should their taxes go to help tpeople like us but also we have paid our taxes and National insurances for over 45 years!! We would never begrudge people who are hit by circumstances beyond their control help and now in our hour of need we had to fight for this help, now it is being taken away with no notice.
We both grew up in poor familys, in council houses seeing our parents struggling but we both decided when we got married we wanted to buy our own home. We both did two jobs to save our deposit. Now we just have our home where we felt we would live till we die without bothering anyone but this terrible thing happened.
I do not feel like I am getting handouts as we are portrayed in the media and by politicians as we have paid all our taxes but feel we have now been so let down in our time of need. I cannot get a job as my husbands needs someone here all the time. I have Crossroads come one afternoon for 4 hours to enable me to take my elderly father out but now that is being cut to just 4 hours a week so life is pretty miserable.
So before people condemn others for needing help with morgage interest help etc they should sit back and think one day it could be you that tragedy strikes without warning and what if all this help is taken away.Everyone has a different story.
Sorry if this is a rant but i feel desolate and alone. I cannot discuss this with my husband due to his Brain Damage and would not want to worry our son who has his own family to care for.I just don't know how we are going to be able to stay in our home now, which really is my sanctury as we cannot do things that other people take for granted anymore.