SMI ; UC

Altior

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82171621#Comment_82171621

Thanks, I've called that number previously, and the agent I got seemed quite clueless as well. I specifically asked what the next step is, but she just ignored the question (presumably didn't know). I've raised the complaint on the journal now so if nothing happens, I will phone UC again by the end of next week.

Altior

Journal response to my complaint post. I need a good strong wall to hit my head against 🤬

Based on the date you made your Universal Credit claim, you are not eligible for a Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI) loan at this time, as you have not yet completed the required 3‑month qualifying period; once this period has been met, your entitlement can be assessed and, if eligible, your application progressed.

huckster

There is a 3 month wait for SMI from date UC was claimed. If you were on income based ESA immediately before UC, then time on ESA counts for the 3 month qualifying period.

Altior

The waiting time is for payments to begin.

As per the government's own website: You can apply for SMI from the date you start getting your benefit.

You can start getting the loan:

• from the date you start getting Pension Credit
  after you’ve got Universal Credit for 3 months in a row or you moved to Universal Credit within a month of another benefit ending and you’ve spent 3 months in total getting these benefit

You can apply for SMI from the date you start getting your benefit.

Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI): Eligibility - GOV.UK

TimeLord1

How quick was the complaint responded to @Altior

Altior

I posted on Saturday am just after 10, and the response was posted just after 10 yesterday am.

The saga could easily have Benny Hill theme music running in the background. I decided to phone UC after that latest [daft] response, to see if they could get someone with some authority and knowledge of actual SMI processes to reach out to me. She seemed to find that the 'system' believes I have an active SMI application, and the SMI team seems to think I am demanding payments before the waiting time. It's quite incredulous. However, she read through all of my SMI related posts on the journal and agreed with me that it's clear that I'm only trying to kick the formal application process off, and not expecting payments yet. Although the waiting time will now have passed before anything has happened, anyway!

I replied to that message yesterday on the journal, quoting the DWP website that clearly states I can apply for SMI as soon as I started to receive UC. She said technically she's meant to wait a couple of days for them to respond, but as my case is so absurd she was going to expedite an escalation. I've asked for a phone call with a case manager team leader. If I get that call, I do hope that they are familiar with the basics of their own processes.

TimeLord1

Yes, now the thing is they'll assume everything and really don't know what each other is saying. You will grow into the lacklustre response. That's why I went and found quicker routes. You have to tell them rather than ask.

Altior

Although you can submit your SMI application in preparation, DWP policy states that you must have been receiving Universal Credit continuously for three months before you can become eligible for Support for Mortgage Interest. I will advise you wait until you are eligible.

🤣 this is beginning to become very testing.

TimeLord1

DWP system literally will not generate or allow staff to issue an MI12 application pack until the 3-month mark is hit. You can inform the lender in advance of the UC claim.

Altior

It gets even more daft if that's the case, as all of the public facing information states that it's determined that you're eligible to apply for SMI when applying for a qualifying benefit.

That's distinct from being eligible to trigger payments, which is where the waiting time comes in. The DWP site uses the word 'qualify' for that context.

How to apply
When you apply for a qualifying benefit, you’ll be asked extra questions about your housing costs to find out if you’re eligible for Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI).

If you then want to apply for SMI, you’ll need to fill in and sign a form. You do not need to pay a fee to apply.

Before filling in the form, you’ll need to:

find out how much mortgage or home improvement loans you have left to pay
find out how much interest you’re paying on your mortgage or home improvement loans
get your partner to agree to sign the form, if you have a partner
You’ll then need to send the form to your lender for them to complete. Your lender will send the completed form to the office that pays your benefit.

If you qualify for SMI, you’ll be offered a loan. You can choose to accept it or turn it down.

Like if you have to wait three months to get the form, it would be helpful to share that minor detail!