How to apply for Support for Mortgage Interest

By Editorial team · Updated 18 September 2026 · Applies to England

In short

Support for Mortgage Interest is a government loan to help eligible homeowners with their mortgage interest payments. You must receive a qualifying benefit to apply. You can apply through the Department for Work and Pensions or via your benefit office.

Check if you qualify for Support for Mortgage Interest

If you own your home and need help with your housing costs, you might be able to get Support for Mortgage Interest. This applies to England. To get this help, you must be getting a qualifying benefit from the government. These benefits include Universal Credit, Pension Credit, or income-related Employment and Support Allowance. You must also have a mortgage or a loan taken out for home repairs and improvements. There is no credit check needed to see if you can join the scheme.

Because rules and qualifying periods can change, you should check GOV.UK for the exact waiting times and qualifying criteria before you make a claim. You can speak to your lender first to see what other temporary help they might offer, such as payment holidays or moving to interest-only payments.

How the loan works and interest rates

Support for Mortgage Interest is paid as a loan rather than a free grant. This means you will have to pay the money back later. The Department for Work and Pensions normally pays the money directly to your mortgage lender. The loan helps pay the interest on eligible parts of your mortgage or home improvement loan up to certain financial limits.

There are caps on how much of your loan the government will cover, depending on which benefit you receive. Interest is added to what you borrow. The interest rate used to calculate your payments can go up or down, but it will not change more than a set number of times each year. You will always be told in advance if the rate is going to change. Because rates and borrowing limits change over time, check GOV.UK for current figures.

How to apply through the DWP

When you first apply for a qualifying benefit, you will usually be asked questions about your housing costs. This helps find out if you might be eligible for a loan. If you already receive a qualifying benefit, you can contact the office that pays your benefit to ask about the scheme.

Find out how much mortgage debt you have left to pay and what interest rate you are paying your lender.
Contact your benefit office, such as Jobcentre Plus or the Pension Service, or message your Universal Credit journal online.
Fill in and sign the application form, ensuring your partner agrees and signs if you live with one.
Send the completed form to your lender so they can complete their section and forward it to the Department for Work and Pensions.

What costs are covered by the loan

The loan is specifically designed to help with the interest payments on your main mortgage for the property where you live. It can also cover loans you took out for essential home repairs and improvements. However, there are strict rules about what cannot be paid for by the scheme.

Missed mortgage payments or arrears cannot be covered by the loan.
Insurance policies linked to your home or mortgage are excluded.
Borrowing used for purposes other than home purchase, repairs, or improvements is not eligible.

Always check GOV.UK to confirm which specific parts of your housing debt qualify for assistance. If you are struggling with broader living costs, you can also look into other types of government help, such as our Help with the cost of living guidance.

How repayment works when you sell your home

Because the assistance is given as a loan, you will eventually have to pay it back. You must repay the loan amount plus all accumulated interest as a lump sum when you sell your home or transfer ownership to someone else. You will not be forced to sell your property just to pay off the debt.

When you sell, the loan is repaid from the money left over after you pay off your main mortgage and any earlier loans secured against the property. If you do not make enough from the sale to cover the entire balance, you only pay back what you can manage, and the remaining debt is written off. If you pass away, the rules depend on who inherits the property. If your partner lives with you and inherits the home, they can usually keep the loan running until they decide to sell or move.

Free help and independent advice

Navigating housing costs and benefit loans can feel overwhelming. If you want free, impartial information and advice about your housing situation, debt, or financial support, you do not have to figure it out alone.

Citizens Advice offers confidential guidance on benefits, housing rights, and debt management.
MoneyHelper provides free tools and advice on mortgages, loans, and money worries.
Shelter gives specialist housing advice and support if you are facing housing difficulties.

Common questions

Do I have to pay interest on the loan?

Yes, interest is added to the loan amount every year until the loan is completely repaid or written off.

Can I transfer the loan if I move house?

You may be able to transfer your loan to another property if you buy a new home instead of repaying it immediately.

Will I be forced to sell my house to repay the loan?

No, you will never be asked to sell your home just to repay your Support for Mortgage Interest loan.

Where can I get free debt advice?

You can get free, independent advice from organisations like Citizens Advice, MoneyHelper, or Shelter.

Who wrote this: Our editorial team, with AI assistance, from the official pages listed on this page. It was checked automatically for unsupported figures and copied text, but it has not yet been read by a person. If something looks wrong, please tell us.
Not advice: This is general information for England. What you can get depends on your circumstances — check with the organisation that runs the scheme before you act.