Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many support for mortgage interest claimants have been contacted by (a) letter and (b) follow-up phone conversation.

As of week commencing 5th March 2018, approximately 109,000 existing Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI) claimants have been sent information at the address where they have been claiming SMI benefit. Claimants are sent information about how the SMI loan will work, about possible alternatives to the loan and organisations that may offer further information and support. This is followed up by telephone calls from Serco to explain the information and answer any questions. A leaflet containing Frequently Asked Questions is issued after this informed discussion. Around 95% of the live caseload have been contacted and we continue to take steps to contact the remaining claimants. As of the same period, approximately 53,500 claimants have had a follow-up telephone informed discussion.