Benefits and prison
Support for Mortgage Interest
Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI) is no longer a benefit. It’s now only available as a loan.
You cannot get an SMI loan if you’re serving a prison sentence but your partner might be able to claim instead.
Your partner’s name may not have to be on the mortgage to be able to claim.
Getting an SMI loan while on remand
If you’re single and on remand, you may be able to continue getting SMI loan payments if you meet the eligibility conditions.
You cannot get an SMI loan or Income Support if you’re part of a couple and on remand, but your partner can claim benefit and housing costs.
Eligibility
If you’re on remand, you must be getting Pension Credit or Income Support to get an SMI loan.
You’ll need to apply for one of these benefits if you’ve previously qualified for SMI by getting Income-based Job Seeker’s Allowance or Employment and Support allowance.
You’ll only be able to get SMI loan payments - you will not be paid Pension Credit or Income Support.
If you get Income Support and have accepted an offer of an SMI loan, you can only get loan payments after you’ve been receiving the benefit for 39 consecutive weeks.