Mortgage Overpayments

I have been awarded PIP and this resulted in my getting a severe disability element added to my ESA. I think it is about £60 a week. I never realised or expected I would get this additional money.

I have an interest only mortgage with the option to overpay and reduce the amount owed. ESA are paying the interest.

I am just wondering whether I am allowed to use the £60 a week to overpay my mortgage and reduce the debt.

I've lived so long without the £60 a week. I don't want to just waste it on life. when I'm already used to the budget I am on. Plus I've got the PIP which is a God send.

Does anyone know where I stand in the eyes of the DWP to do this with my mortgage?

Thanks Gordon

I will get some welfare advice or ask the DWP direct.

How I understand it is that I could overpay and the DWP should be annually checking my mortgage balance and adjust the interest payment accordingly. That said they didn't check the balance with me last year, unless they checked with credit reference and saw it hadn't changed.

It would be crazy to think I couldn't pay it off the mortgage but could save it up and go on holiday. If my mortgage were on repayment I would be having to find the difference.

I really never expected this bit of money and really don't want to squander it.

Caz

Many congratulations on your award.

May I just ask, you say about your mortgage the interest is paid by ESA, can you tell me how this works anyone, how do you meet the criteria, I am on Cont ESA in the support group but struggling re mortgage after having to leave a well paid job because of health, and have also gone onto interest only payments.

Sorry for hijacking your post, but any advice would be welcome.

Best Wishes

Sweetheart wrote: Caz

Many congratulations on your award.

May I just ask, you say about your mortgage the interest is paid by ESA, can you tell me how this works anyone, how do you meet the criteria, I am on Cont ESA in the support group but struggling re mortgage after having to leave a well paid job because of health, and have also gone onto interest only payments.

Sorry for hijacking your post, but any advice would be welcome.

Best Wishes

Hi Sh,

Caz is most welcome to respond.

However, I believe that they are speaking of : Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI)

This provides help with payment of the interest on your mortgage, and you would have to be in receipt of Income Related (IR) ESA or one of the other qualifying "Benefits" to be eligible for SMI.

I see that you say that you are in The SG in receipt of CB ESA, but are you receiving The Enhanced Disability Premium (EDP) for being in The SG as an IR ESA top-up ?

If so, you may be entitled to SMI.

You only have to be in receipt of one penny of IR ESA as part of your ESA payments to be entitled to other "passport benefits" such as SMI.

If you were in receipt of The EDP, it would be listed as "disability income guarantee" on the "Benefit Breakdown" page of your ESA letter.

bro58