Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether it is the Government's policy that support for mortgage interest will become an interest-bearing loan secured against the mortgaged property from April 2018.

From 6 April 2018 a new loans-based system of support for mortgage interest will replace the current benefits based provision. Eligible owner-occupier recipients of income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support, Pension Credit and Universal Credit will be offered interest-bearing loans that give the same level of protection against repossession as current provision. These loans will be secured against their property and repaid from available equity when the property is sold.