Benefits and prison: Support for Mortgage Interest - GOV.UK

BENEFITS AND PRISON Skip contents CONTENTS * Overview * Benefits that stop or are suspended * Universal Credit * Housing Benefit * Council Tax exemption and reduction * Tax credits * Child

Benefit * Support for Mortgage Interest SUPPORT FOR MORTGAGE INTEREST Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI) is no longer a benefit. It’s now only available as a loan. You cannot get an SMI

loan if you’re serving a prison sentence but your partner might be able to claim instead. Your partner’s name may not have to be on the mortgage to be able to claim. GETTING AN SMI LOAN

WHILE ON REMAND If you’re single and on remand, you may be able to continue getting SMI loan payments if you meet the eligibility conditions. You cannot get an SMI loan or Income Support if

you’re part of a couple and on remand, but your partner can claim benefit and housing costs. ELIGIBILITY If you’re on remand, you must be getting Pension Credit or Income Support to get an

SMI loan. You’ll need to apply for one of these benefits if you’ve previously qualified for SMI by getting Income-based Job Seeker’s Allowance or Employment and Support allowance. You’ll

only be able to get SMI loan payments - you will not be paid Pension Credit or Income Support. If you get Income Support and have accepted an offer of an SMI loan, you can only get loan

payments after you’ve been receiving the benefit for 39 consecutive weeks. Previous : Child Benefit View a printable version of the whole guide