Housing benefit for mortgage?

shopaholic2

Hi, Just wondered if housing benefit is ever paid for any help towards a mortgage??
The only info i can see is they pay rent, or a proportion of it.
I'm going to ring them, just wondered if anyone knew thought anyway??
thanks

sweetersong

You can't get HB towards mortgage payments no

However, at the moment there is the support for mortgage interest scheme which can be paid if you are in receipt of specific benefits

More info here

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/On_a_low_income/DG_180321

Jowo_2

Never. Housing benefit (or local housing allowance in the private sector) is never paid to owner occupiers. Look at the Shelter website for information on the schemes available for home owners struggling to pay their mortgages and avoid arrears - they have a home owner helpline.

In certain circumstances, a person living away from the property they own is permitted housing benefit for the new place which they rent. But for owner occupiers on low incomes, there are schemes like SMI to pay the interest part of the mortgage which kick in after about 13 weeks and have certain entry criteria.

Why are you struggling with your mortgage - are you in debt, on benefits, had a drop in employment income?

shopaholic2

Thanks...
Not struggling at the mo but hubby is leaving the marital home and i was looking at the options available for help i might get.
I am disabled, on DLA and Inc Ben and cannot work.

Jowo_2

Contact the Shelter homeowners helpline. They also have a relationship breakdown section that includes information on your options and basic rights.

Is the property jointly owned or owned by him? What settlement is he offering? Has he stopped paying the mortgage? Is he offering child support if you have dependents?

Mrs_Arcanum

Jowo wrote: »

Never. Housing benefit (or local housing allowance in the private sector) is never paid to owner occupiers. Look at the Shelter website for information on the schemes available for home owners struggling to pay their mortgages and avoid arrears - they have a home owner helpline.

In certain circumstances, a person living away from the property they own is permitted housing benefit for the new place which they rent. But for owner occupiers on low incomes, there are schemes like SMI to pay the interest part of the mortgage which kick in after about 13 weeks and have certain entry criteria.

Why are you struggling with your mortgage - are you in debt, on benefits, had a drop in employment income?

Not strictly accurate. Shared owners get HB for the rented part of the share.

Jowo_2

Mrs_Arcanum wrote: »

Not strictly accurate. Shared owners get HB for the rented part of the share.

Sorry, that's not how I understand it, but I'm not completely understanding what you mean by that point so I could be a bit confused. What you mean by rented part of the share? Do you mean the rental property where the husband is moving to? The OP is remaining in the owned property, so no, she won't get HB as she has asked.

"You cannot get Housing Benefit to help with the costs of a mortgage or home loan. If you are an owner-occupier, you may be able to get help with your mortgage interest through Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) or Pension Credit.

To get Housing Benefit you must pay rent..You can only get Housing Benefit if you are responsible for paying the rent for your home, or live with your partner who is responsible for the rent...."



http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/index/life/benefits/help_with_your_rent_-_housing_benefit.htm

fluffymovie

Jowo I think the point is for a shared ownership tenant, they pay rent on
A % and a mortgage on the rest. These owner occupiers can claim
HB for the rent part

Jowo_2

fluffymovie wrote: »

Jowo I think the point is for a shared ownership tenant, they pay rent on
A % and a mortgage on the rest. These owner occupiers can claim
HB for the rent part

Gotcha now, that makes sense. Yes, I agree for Shared Ownership properties, the percentage of the property where rent is paid to the landlord has eligibility for housing benefit, so my statement about owner occupiers not getting HB is incorrect for a tiny percentage of home owners who have SO properties.

Mandymull

Interesting post....we have two girls, both with profound learning disabilites and are looking in to supported living for them both. we were told by the LD TEAM Benefits officer that THEY could in theory own a property with their HB paying the mortgage....i had never heard of this before but have spoken to tow paretns now of young people with similar disabilites in supported livng who are 'buying' their porperty with thei HB money.....r

dmg24

Mandymull wrote: »

Interesting post....we have two girls, both with profound learning disabilites and are looking in to supported living for them both. we were told by the LD TEAM Benefits officer that THEY could in theory own a property with their HB paying the mortgage....i had never heard of this before but have spoken to tow paretns now of young people with similar disabilites in supported livng who are 'buying' their porperty with thei HB money.....r

No, they aren't. They are either getting a mortgage and claiming SMI (though this would rarely be allowed if someone was already in receipt of benefits), or someone else is taking out a mortgage and the 'girls' are claiming HB to pay to their 'landlord'.