PV Solar Array on Benefit

ChrisEl

Hello, this is my first post, so please be gentle with me if by chance I seem to be asking stupid questions.

I’ve been following the solar panel debate for a short while and can see that to some it’s an emotive subject with regard to the FiTs, rob from the poor to give to the rich. Well here a new slant on it for which I would welcome your comments. First my circumstances, I’m on benefits, unable to work due to ill health. I have no other income except income support. My home is mortgaged for which the interest is paid, presumably by housing benefit, at approx. £12.00/week, not a lot of money when you look at some of the rents that are being paid. However, it is unlikely that I will be able to return to work and therefore unlikely that I will be able to pay of my mortgage. However, if I install a 4kWp solar panel array the income from the FiTs will in time pay of my mortgage. The problem is that I would have to increase my mortgage to pay for the installation which in turn would increase the interest payments to somewhere in the region of £18 ~ £20/week.

So my question, does anybody have any idea of how the benefits agency/housing benefit would react to this increase? Of course it could be argued that the income from the FiT could pay the increase in interest payable which would be my argument if problems occurred with the benefits agency but that would probably add a level of complexity that they wouldn’t have a procedure to handle. Your thoughts would be appreciated.

Chris

mamabuddah

so you want to make a "home improvement" and have the benefits agency pay for it?...I'm not sure they'll go for that, or indeed will the mortgage company, but I'm sure there'll be an expert on here soon to advise.

ChrisEl

mamabuddah wrote: »

so you want to make a "home improvement" and have the benefits agency pay for it?

Thanks for your response. Is it really home improvements? I thought it was an investment opportunity that may help me out of poverty! and as for the benefits agency paying for it, I thought I'd handled that in my post. But a question for you ... who's paying the FiTs?

Chris

mamabuddah

well who will be paying the increased mortgage costs to have the job installed then ?

HappyMJ

You will still only get £12 per week in mortage interest paid for you. You will need to find the other £6-£8 yourself. Which is quite easy as you'll have FiT payments coming in.

ChrisEl

mamabuddah wrote: »

well who will be paying the increased mortgage costs to have the job installed then ?

Ah a question with a question! .... Well I don't know perhaps at the bottom of me I would rather hope that ultimately the same people that are paying the FiTs, you and me.

Chris

ChrisEl

Hi HappyMJ and thanks for your comment.

HappyMJ wrote: »

You will still only get £12 per week in mortage interest paid for you. You will need to find the other £6-£8 yourself.

Are you sure about that, I mean it would make sense but as I said in my original post

"that would probably add a level of complexity that they wouldn’t have a procedure to handle"

Chris