ESA support group and need SMI

books123

Hi 
I was wondering if anyone could help. I’ve just been told I wlll be in the ESA support group as I’ve been off work since 2023 and my work are dismissing me on health grounds. I am living alone (divorced) with no children and have a high mortgage of £1400 a month (it’s a one bedroom house in London so can’t even rent a room out) I was told I should get an extra £47 a week on top of my £90.50 so around £590 a month. This is fine to pay my council tax and utility bills and some food and travel (just about ) biut I applied 6 months ago for an SMI loan for the mortgage but was told I can only get that after getting 3 months UC. However, I don’t get UC (I’m on the system but the payments are always 0 as I get ESA and I can’t get both apparently. Does anyone know what I am meant to do with regards to paying the mortgage?? If I miss more than 3 months I get my house repossessed but my work coach doesn’t know and neither do ESA. It used to be after 39 weeks you can get it but they change the rules not too long ago but what does someone do in my position ?  My mortgage lender said I can get a mortgage holiday and I still have 22 years left on it !! 

KxMx

You can get both NS ESA & UC, known as a dual claim, I suspect the assessment rate NS ESA has been wiping out the only UC element you have been entitled too (Standard Allowance £393.45 ). 

Your UC award should now increase to include the LCWRA element (ESA SG equivalent) which will add £416.19 to your award before deductions. 
The ESA will be deducted in full (the monthly equivalent of NS ESA is £598.86) but that will now leave some UC in payment. 

sammyjammy

Are you expecting to return to work at any stage?  If not you need to look at the long term impact of owning this property, any interest payments made under SMI will be paid as a loan, what will you do about repaying the capital?  Is your lender content for you to go interest only?

tony_1

Do you qualify for PIP ?

books123

Yes I get PIP of £72 a week which I use for weekly counseling of £60 a week and CBT which is fantastic. Even at interest only it’s still £918 a month and my lender sent the SMI forms back to DWP/UC in November and when I get inheritance  say in 10-15 years I will be able to pay the £350,000 off in full. It’s just that as I don’t get UC they said I need 3 consecutive payments to be able to qualify for SMI.  When I looked into SMI you only pay it when you die or the person you leave it to has to pay it back. Even if you transfer to a new property you don’t pay it back only if you sell up so I’m really not bothered about the pay back I just need help as I am a critical care nurse and have been signed off for 18 months and they are dismissing me on health grounds as Occupational health Dr said I am not well to return to inursing and in fact I will not be able to renew my NMC license as I do not have enough practice hours you see. 

poppy12345

born_again said:

There is a good chance that the apple purchase is not in your name, & they have just used your sort/account number as the payment method.

Have you commented on the wrong thread? 

born_again

poppy12345 said:

born_again said:

There is a good chance that the apple purchase is not in your name, & they have just used your sort/account number as the payment method.

Have you commented on the wrong thread? 

Yes.  🤦‍♀️Deleted reply.. Thanks 😍