SMI or Support for Mortgage Interest is a loan paid by the government to your mortgage lender in order to help qualifying applicants to pay all or part of the interest accruing on their mortgage during times when they are unable to do so.
In order to qualify for SMI, applicants will normally already be in receipt of another qualifying benefit. You can eligible to apply for this loan:
- from the date you start getting Pension Credit
- after you’ve had 9 consecutive Universal Credit payments
- after you’ve claimed any other qualifying benefit for 39 consecutive weeks
You might still be able to get SMI if you apply for one of the qualifying benefits but cannot get it because your income is too high. You’ll then be treated as getting the benefit you applied for.
The interest covered is currently assumed to be 2.61% of the mortgage sum and the interest you will pay on the SMI loan is currently 1.3%. This may vary but will not change more than twice per annum. You’ll need to repay the money you get with interest when you sell or transfer ownership of your home. You can also make voluntary payments beforehand if you wish.
SMI is capped at interest on a sum of £200,000 if you are working or £100,000 for pensioners or you started claiming another qualifying benefit before January 2009.
Recent posts
Additional borrowing, also known as a further advance, is when you borrow more money on your existing mortgage for a specific reason agreed with your lender.
Here are five of the most common reasons for additional borrowing.
UK Housing Market Round-Up: 2025
16 days ago
Property search site Zoopla has estimated that the UK housing market will end 2025 with approximately 1.15 million completed sales – 4.5% more than the previous year.
Take a look at the 2025 summary of the UK housing market.
Best UK Mortgage Rates this Week
16 days ago
Here are the lowest fixed mortgage rates of the week, available to first-time buyers, home movers, buy-to-let, and those remortgaging.
Call us for more information: 01628 507477 or email: team@mortgagerequired.com.
Buying in the New Year
17 days ago
If buying your first property, or moving home, is on your to-do list this year, the new year can be a great time to take this big step. In this short blog, we look at what you need to consider as you plan and prepare for your home-buying journey.
Just because the Bank of England decides to reduce the base rate, this doesn't automatically mean that your mortgage rate will go down.
Autumn Budget 2025: A Summary
26 Nov 2025
Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, has delivered the Autumn 2025 budget. We have summarised the government's plans for tax and spending.
Renters' Rights Act
14 Nov 2025
The Renter’s Rights Bill became law at the end of October, which means it has been signed off by the King, and it is now the Renters’ Rights Act. Despite this becoming law, these changes are likely to start changing within the next six months, with the aim of being fully implemented throughout 2026 and into 2027.
A welcome change in school is coming as financial literacy is due to become compulsory in schools in England.
The Government has announced that as part of the new national curriculum, children in primary and secondary education will be required to learn about budgeting, compound interest, managing money, and mortgages.
More information
Trusted by
