Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will delay the implementation of the changes to Support for Mortgage Interest; and if he will make a statement.

There are no plans to delay implementation of the changes to Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI). SMI loans were introduced on 6 April 2018 and loan payments have started to be made. All claimants have been contacted and after this initial contact an information discussion is held following which the offer of an SMI loan is made. Transitional provisions enable claimants to continue to receive SMI as a benefit for up to 10 weeks following the date the loan offer is made to give them time to make a decision and for the loan payments to be put in place. Where an existing claimant lacks mental capacity to make decisions about entering into the loan agreement, the regulations enable SMI benefit to continue until an appropriate person is appointed to act on the claimant’s behalf.