Help with mortgage interest payments through means-tested benefits
If you claim Income Support, Pension Credit, income-related Employment and Support Allowance or income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, your award can include help with your mortgage interest payments and certain other housing costs, including service charges and ground rents.
The maximum loan, which will be considered for help with mortgage interest payments is £100,000.
If you claim Pension Credit, help with housing costs can be paid straight away from the start of your claim. If you claim Income Support, income-related Employment and Support Allowance or income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, there will be a waiting period before you will receive any help with your mortgage interest payments.
For mortgages taken out after 2 October 1995 the waiting period will be 39 weeks. For mortgages taken out before that date you will receive 50% of your assessed housing costs after 8 weeks and 100% of your assessed housing costs after 26 weeks.
If you are claiming benefits as a carer, your mortgage may be treated as if it was taken out before 2 October 1995 even if it was taken out after that date.
It's a good idea to get advice on what help you are entitled to from an experienced benefits adviser.