Under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme a weekly supplement may be paid in respect of rent or mortgage interest. Entitlement to a supplement is determined by the health board in the light of the circumstances of the case and the payment is normally calculated to ensure that the person, after payment of rent or mortgage interest, has an income equal to the rate of supplementary welfare allowance appropriate to the family circumstances, less £5.
People in receipt of either unemployment benefit or assistance may qualify for a mortgage supplement, depending on their circumstances as may recipients of other social welfare or health board payments.
An applicant is not required to have a mortgage for a minimum period before being considered for a mortgage supplement; however, a supplement would not normally be paid in cases where a mortgage was taken out at a time when the person was not in a financial position to meet the repayments.
If the partner of an applicant for a supplement is in part-time employment, his or her income would be taken into account in the calculation of the supplement.
The guidelines on the operation of rent and mortgage supplementation are under review at present in consultation with health boards and I intend that revised guidelines will be published in the near future.
