January 2011 - cessation of mortgage interest help

I’ve been banging on about this, without much interest, and I know that the SSAC raised this sveveral months ago with DWP, AFAIK again without much response.  I had hoped that the extension of the £200k limit would mean extending this period as well but apparently not.

•support for mortgage interest: the temporary changes to the waiting period and capital limit will be extended until January 2012

taken from CAB information system as part of the government Comprensive Spending Review. (Yes hard to believe)

Great news!
Many thanks - in amongst all the ‘bad’ had missed that snippet of ‘good’!!

Third attempt at posting this so will be brief.

The 2 year limit on SMI in JSA was PART OF the temporary changes in January 2009. Extending these temporary rules to January 2012 in no way removes the problem; it compounds it.

Expect nothing good off this government.

Richard Atkinson

We are now starting to see these cases coming through.  We have raised this issue too (see article in WRB 218).  DWP independent research recommended that the 104 week should be abolished or increased - http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd5/rports2009-2010/rrep711.pdf . Best advice to claimants whose 104 weeks has ended is to get independent money/housing advice - courts may be unwilling to grant possession in such cases if claimant has taken all reasonable steps to try and meet housing costs.  However, Shelter probably better placed to comment on this.

Attached is Lord Freud’s response to CPAG correspondence re: 104 week rule - apparently it’s a work incentive.  We’re looking for test cases in England and Wales for this - contact London office if you’ve got any.

I have a client whose help with mortgage interest with JSA is coming to an end from 21-3-11 because he will have claimed for 104 weeks.  As far as I can work out the normal linking rules apply so changing to Income Support or ESA temporarily will mean that when he returns to JSA he will still be excluded from receiving the mortgage interest payments.  I’m thinking that the only way to become entitled to help with housing costs with JSA again is a complete break in claiming for 12 weeks and then serving another 13 week wait OR if he goes into work he would be entitled again after 52 weeks.  Does anyone have any better ideas, as none of this is very helpful to my client. Thanks.

Coming late to this impending wave of issuss…

Did we get any consensus on possible action in this situation?

a) if there is a gap of 12 (or is it 13 weeks ) in the JJSA claim does the 104 retsart?

b) does a move to ESA mean the SMI can continue indefinitely?

Thanks.
Pam C

Move to ESA (or IS as carer, for example. if applicable) should result in MI continuing indefinitely. Have advised several clients to do this in past 5 months where appropriate.

Thanks for that.

Anyone successfully done the 12 / 13 week break?

Pam C