Government Urged To Postpone ‘Second Mortgage’ Scheme

The government has been urged to stall controversial benefit changes which came into effect in the new tax year, amid claims they unfairly penalise the most vulnerable in society. On 6 April, a “second mortgage” system replaced the Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI), which helped financially constrained homeowners with their mortgage payments. From this month, it will no longer be paid as a free benefit but, instead, the government is offering to loan people the money, which will have to be repaid later with interest. The move attracted anger from a number of recipients of the benefit who said they had not been properly informed of the move. Read more on the Observer website.

https://www.theguardian.com/money/2018/apr/14/support-second-mortgage-interest-benefit-complaints