Clarification of help with mortgage interest and ESA!

Ithaca29

Hi there, just wanting some advice re: the situation my friend is in at the moment. He is claiming ESA at an assessment rate having failed his medical assessment (0 points when everything suggest he should be in a support group due to his disabilities and illnesses) however, they've put him on the assessment rate again pending appeal and he applied for mortgage interest help.

They've written to him saying that they will be taking £111 a week from his ESA to pay his mortgage interest leaving him very little pennies to live on let alone bills and food. Is this correct? I am trying to find information about this but nothing suggest even paying at least £100 from your ESA to cover the interest on mortgage and on the letter, there's no way he can appeal against the decision. Does anyone have any experience of this they can share?

Thanks!

pmlindyloo

I am pretty certain that this is just a badly expressed letter.

The SMI is paid directly to the mortgage lender. Your friend should continue to receive his ESA.

Other people to confirm please?

suelees1

No, it doesn't sound correct. What they do is add the amount they will be paying in mortgge interest to the personal allowance but then subtract it because they pay the lender direct. As an example single person assessment rate of ESA is £67.50 and the mortgage interest is say £50pw. The amount the law say they need to live on is then £117.50. They then deduct the interest as it goes straight to the lender, leaving the claimant with a payment of £67.50

Ithaca29

Thank you guys, you've been incredibly helpful :beer: I'll pass this information to my friend but you're right, it is definitely one badly expressed letter from the DWP unfortunately. Thank you again :wave:

suelees1

....and tell him he needs to get his own medical evidence to support his appeal otherwise he won't stand a chance with zero points.