Anybody claim housing benefit?

Yeah, I work 5 days a week starting Monday and finishing Friday. I'll be sure to mention this in staff briefing though. And yes I am a teacher, I am just not a qualified teacher. Still recognised nationally as a teacher hence why I can be called a teacher. I have not once claimed to be a qualified teacher.

So you admit you are not a qualified teacher then James?

Yeah, I work 5 days a week starting Monday and finishing Friday. I'll be sure to mention this in staff briefing though. And yes I am a teacher, I am just not a qualified teacher. Still recognised nationally as a teacher hence why I can be called a teacher. I have not once claimed to be a qualified teacher.

So you admit you are not a qualified teacher then James?

I have never claimed to be a qualified teacher. I claimed to be a teacher, completely different.

Yeah, I work 5 days a week starting Monday and finishing Friday. I'll be sure to mention this in staff briefing though. And yes I am a teacher, I am just not a qualified teacher. Still recognised nationally as a teacher hence why I can be called a teacher. I have not once claimed to be a qualified teacher.

So you admit you are not a qualified teacher then James?

I have never claimed to be a qualified teacher. I claimed to be a teacher, completely different.

Semantics. You aren't REALLY a teacher. If i fix the brakes on my car I am not a mechanic.

Yeah, I work 5 days a week starting Monday and finishing Friday. I'll be sure to mention this in staff briefing though. And yes I am a teacher, I am just not a qualified teacher. Still recognised nationally as a teacher hence why I can be called a teacher. I have not once claimed to be a qualified teacher.

So you admit you are not a qualified teacher then James?

I have never claimed to be a qualified teacher. I claimed to be a teacher, completely different.

Semantics. You aren't REALLY a teacher. If i fix the brakes on my car I am not a mechanic.

Urm, in the eyes of the law and government I am a teacher. I'll take their interpretation over yours. Thanks for your consideration though. Also find it bewildering how you claim to know me so much. I very much doubt that.

Yes but in the eyes of everybody else, you aren't a teacher. Stop posturing.

Yes but in the eyes of everybody else, you aren't a teacher. Stop posturing.

Well I am but whatever floats your boat. Otherwise my staff ID wouldn't say teacher would it, clever clogs?

Funny how you fail to address the knowing me part. You're a liar as proven and I do not know of any Andrew Mercer. Might have had him on my old Facebook but I had loads of people on there that I may have come across once during a night out or whatever at uni so doesn't mean nothing to me. Oh and my current account only has a few people added to it and its locked down, so well done.

Yes but in the eyes of everybody else, you aren't a teacher. Stop posturing.

Well I am but whatever floats your boat. Otherwise my staff ID wouldn't say teacher would it, clever clogs?

Funny how you fail to address the knowing me part. You're a liar as proven and I do not know of any Andrew Mercer. Might have had him on my old Facebook but I had loads of people on there that I may have come across once during a night out or whatever at uni so doesn't mean nothing to me. Oh and my current account only has a few people added to it and its locked down, so well done.

Well youre not.

So you don't know an Andrew Mercer but may have been friends on your facebook, that makes sense i have no idea who is on your facebook pal

Well youre not.

No point arguing with a pedant but whatever.

So you don't know an Andrew Mercer but may have been friends on your facebook, that makes sense i have no idea who is on your facebook pal

Name doesn't ring a bell at all. At one point I had over 1500 people on Facebook which is why I closed the account and just added those I wanted to keep in touch with upon graduation.

Well youre not.

No point arguing with a pedant but whatever.

So you don't know an Andrew Mercer but may have been friends on your facebook, that makes sense i have no idea who is on your facebook pal

Name doesn't ring a bell at all. At one point I had over 1500 people on Facebook which is why I closed the account and just added those I wanted to keep in touch with upon graduation.

Well he knows you, as does Chloe

Well he knows you, as does Chloe

Interesting that as I don't know anyone by the name of Chloe.

Well he knows you, as does Chloe

Interesting that as I don't know anyone by the name of Chloe.

course you dont.

Well he knows you, as does Chloe

Interesting that as I don't know anyone by the name of Chloe.

course you dont.

Chloe what then? I'm serious I don't.

Don't know her surname, but again she claims to know you.

Don't know her surname, but again she claims to know you.

Now I know you're lying.

Don't know her surname, but again she claims to know you.

Now I know you're lying.

Because i am unsure of her surname?

James stop lying for Gods sake.

Don't know her surname, but again she claims to know you.

Now I know you're lying.

Because i am unsure of her surname?

James stop lying for Gods sake.

I don't know of a Chloe.

Yeah you have said, you said you didnt know Andy too

Yeah you have said, you said you didnt know Andy too

Yeah, I don't. Find it strange that you seem to have an array of people who know of me but I don't know them. Harassment or stalking much?

Yeah you have said, you said you didnt know Andy too

Yeah, I don't. Find it strange that you seem to have an array of people who know of me but I don't know them. Harassment or stalking much?

Ok James yes they are all stalking you

This is boring now. At least try in your efforts to wind people up. I'm off to bed as I have to be in work on Monday. Enjoy your time on benefits.

This is boring now. At least try in your efforts to wind people up. I'm off to bed as I have to be in work on Monday. Enjoy your time on benefits.

If this is winding you up then you clearly acknowledge I'm close to the bone. Enjoy handing out the pencils for the teacher

This is boring now. At least try in your efforts to wind people up. I'm off to bed as I have to be in work on Monday. Enjoy your time on benefits.

If this is winding you up then you clearly acknowledge I'm close to the bone. Enjoy handing out the pencils for the teacher

This is not winding me up at all. Its boring. I said to you to at least try because so far your efforts have been appalling.

2.2 State benefits for homeowners
The DWP will help people with their mortgage liabilities if they are unable to pay their mortgage, but the help is strictly limited.

(a) Support for mortgage interest
For all mortgages, the DWP will pay the interest (but not any capital payments) at a standardised rate. Since October 2010, this rate has been the Bank of England’s average mortgage rate (still 3.63% in September 2014), which means that many people will no longer have all of their mortgage interest covered.

Support for mortgage interest (SMI) is means tested. If the borrower has capital of more than £16,000 (excluding any equity in their property – the value of a home is ignored for SMI) no benefit is payable. Benefits are reduced by £1 a week for each £250 of capital (or part thereof) over £6,000. Other household income can also be taken into account.

No mortgage-related benefits are paid for the first 13 weeks and full benefit is paid after that. Only the first £200,000 of any mortgage is covered. A two year time limit came into effect in January 2009 for those also claiming JSA. These temporary rules came into effect on 5 January 2009 and are due to run until at least 2015.

The benefit may also be restricted if the home is regarded as ‘excessive’ or if the immediate area is more expensive than other areas in which there is suitable alternative accommodation.

SMI is only provided for interest on the house purchase element of the loan. It therefore excludes any borrowing for the purposes of home improvements, unless they are essential to make the property fit for human occupation. Interest on arrears is also excluded.

In effect, the DWP assumes that people have taken out suitable cover, e.g. MPPI, and only provides benefit for those unable to work for a long time and who have very limited capital resources. For example, in 2011/12 in England, just 0.3% of all owner occupied households received SMI (source: English Housing Survey, Department for Communities and Local Government, July 2013: http://bit.ly/1ezRjqK).

The SMI scheme is due to run until 2016, but the Government is considering converting the benefit to a repayable loan in future. The belief is that, as house prices rise, taxpayers in effect subsidise mortgage borrowers’ investment in their property if they qualify for benefits. The initial qualification period may also change again – possibly to 39 weeks. Both the potential changes illustrate why some form of insured income protection can be a better alternative for many borrowers than relying on state benefits.

No Image Found. Key fact

Income support is a means tested benefit that may be claimed if a borrower cannot pay their mortgage. For all mortgages:

Only payment of interest is covered.
A specified standardised interest rate is used, which may be lower than the rate charged.
Only the interest on the first £200,000 of loan is covered.
Payments do not begin for 13 weeks.
A two year time limit applies to those also claiming jobseeker’s allowance.
Strict means tested benefit rules apply.


(b) Homeowners mortgage support
Introduced during 2009, Homeowners Mortgage Support (HMS) is designed for people who have had a temporary drop in income and are unable to meet their monthly mortgage payments. If accepted into the scheme, the borrower can delay some of the interest payable on their mortgage for up to two years. Their mortgage will also be switched to interest only if it is not already on that basis.

However, their lender must be part of the government supported scheme, they must be able to pay at least 30% of the interest due each month and not be in arrears. The scheme is not available if, the borrower owns more than one home, has insurance cover, if their income is not expected to recover (e.g. if they have a long-term illness or disability), or if they are receiving SMI.

Any interest deferred is effectively added to the capital outstanding and may mean higher interest payments in the long run.

By 2011, very few people had taken up HMS and the scheme was closed to new entrants from 21 April 2011.

(c) The Mortgage Resuce Scheme
The Mortgage Rescue Scheme is only available in England, although similar schemes are available through local councils in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. It is intended as a last resort for those struggling with mortgage problems.

The scheme is only available to those with a priority need where household income is less than £60,000 a year and the mortgage represents 75% - 120% of the home’s current value. The home value must also be less than a figure set by each local council for houses in its area.

Operating through a Registered Social Landlord (RSL – an independent housing association), homeowners can get an interest only equity loan (subject to there being at least 40% equity available in the property). Otherwise the RSL buys the home for 90% of its market value and the homeowner then pays rent to the RSL, with the rent being set at 20% less than the market rate for their area.

Application should be made through the local council.