Almost 12,000 people receiving state mortgage assistance
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.
The estimate of expenditure on the payment for 2009 is €40.1m, an increase of €12.5m on 2008, but with ever increasing numbers claiming, it seems likely this will over-run.
Meanwhile, in response to the growing demand on the scheme – and complaints of extensive waiting times – the Government is reviewing the scheme.
According to Róisín Shortall, Labour’s Social and Family Affairs spokesperson, many people don’t qualify because the rules haven’t been altered for over a decade.
She said the supplement was far too restrictive and ruled out many low-income families.
Fine Gael’s spokesperson Olwyn Enright said she was still coming across a significant amount of people who were being refused MIS.
“They are being told their mortgage is too high, and they should not have accepted it. Hindsight is a great thing but these couples are being badly affected and do not know where to turn.”
Ms Enright said many did appeal the decision. Appeal processing times vary from five to 12 weeks on average depending on workloads.
According to the department, the current review of the administration of the mortgage interest supplement scheme is progressing.
“The main purpose of the review is to consider how the mortgage interest supplement scheme can best meet its objective of catering for those who require assistance.”
