§ 44. Mr. Allan Robertsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what special arrangements have been made by his Department to assist mortgage defaulters.
§ Mr. WhitneySpecial arrangements exist to help borrowers who are receiving supplementary benefit. No additional benefit is available in respect of arrears but if a claimant's supplementary benefit assessment includes an amount for mortgage interest that sum, together with £1.45 towards the arrears, may be deducted from his benefit and paid on his behalf to the lender. This may be done if
the claimant is in arrears because, in the opinion of the adjudication officer, he has failed to budget, andhe has not paid two of the mortgage payments due in the preceding twelve weeks, andin the opinion of the adjudication officer, it is in the claimant's interests to institute direct payment.The adjudication officer may also institute direct payment even if these criteria are not satisfied if in his opinion it is in the overriding interests of the claimant or his family to do so. No help may be given with mortgage capital repayments.