DWP Mortgage payments

james656

I've joined this forum because i'm trying to find out some information and i just cannot find it, so i wondered if anyone here can help me. 3 months ago my father died and since then i have taken control of the business and bills and payments etc. This week i received a phone call from santander saying that my mortgage hasn't been paid, Upon enquiry i found out that the DWP were paying part of my parents mortgage.

That's where my knowledge of the subject ends. I have spent many hours trying to find a contact number/information about this problem and i keep getting redirected to the wrong department who apologise and say it's nothing to do with them.

What i want is to ideally keep it the same as it was for mother who lives at the address. If it's not possible to keep it the same i will have to pay the full mortgage as i pay the partial mortgage anyway now because my mum only has her pension now.

I suppose my question is can anyone enlighten me on this subject and point me in the right direction, i have tried myself but cannot seem to get anywhere.

Thank you
James

Thrugelmir

Who are you trying to contact the DWP?

Dave_the_Ginger_Cat

Sounds like housing benefit to me.

Suggest

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Diol1/DoItOnline/DG_4017614

and you help her through the process.

There is a benefits board here also, and you may get more detail if you repost or ask this to be moved

james656

That's precisely my problem i have no idea and no way of finding out, up until last week i wasn't even aware this existed. I would imagine with it being my father that set it up, chances are it would of been benefits. If there is any way of contacting a help desk to work through the problem would be great, but i can't find a number. There is a huge list of numbers on the dwp site and when you don't know what your looking for it's very confusing and alienating.

I will have a look at the link and see if that gets me anywhere,thanks for the response

Regards
James

SouthCoast

More information on Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI).

http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/index/your_family/home_and_neighbourhood_index_ew/mortgage_problems_index_ew/how_to_sort_out_your_mortgage_problems_index_ew/help_with_mortgage_costs_if_you_re_out_of_work.htm

Thrugelmir

james656 wrote: »

That's precisely my problem i have no idea and no way of finding out, up until last week i wasn't even aware this existed. I would imagine with it being my father that set it up, chances are it would of been benefits.

Without wishing to sound callous. The benefit would cease once they were notified that your father was deceased.

jln_2

Find out what benefits your parents claim - most probably Pension Credits, then phone the national number for that.

I would imagine from what you've said that your mum will be able to continue to claim the same mortgage payments but in her own name. The DWP have a horrible habit of stopping everything when they are informed of a change of circumstance and it's up to the claimant to correct it. Any payments outstanding should be backdated.

holly_hobby

As T. has already stated, the payment has stopped because the claimant is deceased.

Mum will need to submit her own claim, its wrong to assume that the financial circs will remain unaltered following Dads passing, in fact they may have improved, if any dependants pension/term/WOL insurance has (is to be) paid to Dads estate on his death - which may negatively affect any means tested benefits Mum may apply for in her own right/name.

Best to have a chat with CAB or local DWP to establish those benefits for which Mum is eligible for.

I have included a link for you to have a quick check on eligibility on housing benefit ... http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/On_a_low_income/DG_10018926

Hope this helps

Holly

james656

Thanks for all your advice. I'll try and see what i can do and get back to you.

fashionprincess

Hope you've managed to sort this.
I work for a mortgage department within one of the banks and deal with these forms that get sent to us.
If you were to phone santander they should be able to tell you which benefit office they have been dealing with and let you know if the claim has stopped. Sounds like pension credits, so if it has stopped then mum should be able to apply for a claim on her own.
If they can tell you which benefit office then just give them a call and let them know the change of circumstances!!
fingers crossed

james656

Just an update, it turns out it was pension credit from when my father was ill and not working, i am now in the process of sorting it out for my mother now but it's a case of you think you've reached the summit then a new obstacle looms in the horizon. thanks for all the help.