Friend recently widowed-finding it hard to make ends meet...

Jowo_2

The Shelter website has a section for home owners which gives excellent advice how they can prevent mortgage arrears and re-possession by the lender. It details various government schemes to help those at risk of losing their home.

If he isn't in the position to pay his mortgage in the long-term, risks losing the property, and isn't eligible for any of the various schemes the Shelter website details, then I guess he has to consider selling the property and moving into rented accommodation or buy somewhere smaller/cheaper.

However, hopefully the Shelter website will detail some more positive options than that but ultimately a mortgage that requires two salaries to be affordable which now only has one income stream is going to be a financial millstone for many years, and there is no means tested benefits that will simply pay off a mortgage or pay for it indefinately (just pretty basic ones that will pay the interest for some time for those who aren't in employment, as far as I know).

schoolrunmum

I don't think it's so drastic that his mortgage is at risk,I think it's just more a "making ends meet" thing-and there must be some benefits that he doesn't even know he's entitled to.....
Some good suggestions here anyway,for us to look into xx

RAS

www.wentitledto.com

shop-to-drop

What about life insurance? Did they not take any to cover mortgage? Maybe there is life cover with her employer or pension.

schoolrunmum

She'd been unable to get insurance as she'd had several bouts of cancer..

Oldernotwiser

schoolrunmum wrote: »

I don't think it's so drastic that his mortgage is at risk,I think it's just more a "making ends meet" thing-and there must be some benefits that he doesn't even know he's entitled to.....

There may be but there's no "must" about it.

Unfortunately, when someone dies, a family is always likely to have less income. In addition, it's often the woman who's responsible for the budgeting and it may be a skill that he needs to learn.