Public not ready for mortgage benefit changes Say Royal London

Government changes to mortgage benefits could harm consumers, according to Royal London.

Currently Government offers benefits to those struggling to make their mortgage payments. But it plans to change this from a benefit to a loan.

Around 124,000 households receive regular benefit help with their mortgage interest payments, including around 57,000 pensioners.

Government started writing to and calling these claimants last July.

Those who do not sign up to the new scheme will lose their benefits in April.

But Royal London says just 6,850 households have taken up the new scheme as of 22 July, following a Freedom of Information request to the Department for Work and Pensions.

Not all claimants have been contacted yet.

Royal London is calling on the Government to delay the controversial changes until households have been given proper information about what is planned.

Royal London personal finance specialist Helen Morrissey says: “It is truly shocking that many thousands of low income families are yet to receive the information they need on the fact that their mortgage interest help could be switched off in just ten weeks’ time.

“If thousands of people fail to complete the process in time they could face real hardship and even potential repossession if they can no longer afford to meet their mortgage interest bills.  The DWP should pause the implementation of this policy until it is confident that everyone has had full information about the changes and the time and support to make an informed decision’.”