Housing Cost Support
You may be able to get help with your housing costs if you are on a low income.
If you are under Pension Age Universal Credit may help with towards your Rent and/or eligible service Charges.
If you are over Pension Age Housing Benefit may help towards your Rent and/or eligible service charges.
If you are a Home Owner you may be able to get help in the form of a 'Support with Mortgage Interest' (SMI) loan from the DWP with your mortgage interest if you are in receipt of Universal Credit or Pension Credit.
Sefton Council have the Housing and Housing Support section on this website.
Home Ownership: Support for Mortgage Interest and Universal Credit
People who own their home (including leaseholders) can claim Universal Credit.
You can only get an Support for Mortgage Interest SMI loan if:
- You already get Universal Credit, and
- You wait for a set time (called a qualifying period), and
- You agree to the loan.
The SMI loan can help pay:
- Your mortgage
- Some loans for important repairs or improvements
- Other ways of paying for a home
The loan is secured on your home. This means it must be paid back, and your home is used as security.
You must pay interest on the SMI loan, as well as your normal mortgage interest.
You usually pay the loan back:
- When you sell your home
- Or when the person (or last person in a couple) dies
- If you move, you may be able to transfer the loan to your new home
If your home sale does not raise enough money:
- All the money from the sale is used first
- Any leftover debt is written off
Some service charges (if you have them) are:
- Still paid through Universal Credit
- Not paid by the SMI loan
For more information about Support for Mortgage Interest see GOV.UK Support for Mortgage Interest
There are Crisis Resilience Housing Payments (CRHP) available to allow councils to give you extra help with your rent.
Easy summary - Council Tax Reduction
- Council Tax Reduction helps people pay less council tax
- It is for people with low money or extra needs
- It helps families and older people manage bills
What is Council Tax Reduction?
Council Tax Reduction is help with paying council tax.
Council tax is money people pay to the local council to help pay for things like:
- Schools
- Bins and recycling
- Roads
- Libraries
- Social Care
Who gets Council Tax Reduction?
It helps people who:
- Do not have much money
- Live on their own
- Are out of work
- Are ill or disabled
- Are older
- Get benefits like Universal Credit, PIP, or Pension Credit
Each council decides who can get it. You can find out more on Sefton Council Council Tax Discount and Exemptions page.
Why do people need it?
Council tax costs money every month.
Some people:
- Cannot earn enough
- Are poorly
- Are caring for someone
Council Tax Reduction helps them:
- Pay less council tax
- Feel less worried about bills
How does it work?
- Some people pay less council tax
- Some people do not have to pay any at all (exemptions)
- The amount is taken off the Council Tax bill