Almost 12,000 people receiving state mortgage assistance

ALMOST 12,000 people are receiving state assistance to help pay their monthly mortgage bills.

According to latest figures from the Department of Social and Family Affairs, 11,900 people are in receipt of mortgage interest supplement – a discretionary payment made under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme and administered by community welfare officers.

The huge rise in numbers seeking the payment represents a 190% increase since the end of 2007. An analysis of figures shows between March and May there were more than 2,000 new recipients of the benefit.