Support for Mortgage Interest

Overview

If you’re a homeowner, you might be able to get help towards interest payments on: 

  • your mortgage 

  • loans you’ve taken out for certain repairs and improvements to your home 

This help is called Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI). 

It’s paid as a loan, which you’ll need to repay with interest when you sell or transfer ownership of your home. 

You usually need to be getting, or treated as getting, a qualifying benefit to get SMI. 

There’s no guarantee that you’ll get SMI for a mortgage or loan you take out. 

What you cannot use SMI for 

SMI cannot help you pay: 

  • the amount you borrowed - only the interest on your mortgage  

  • anything towards insurance policies you have  

  • missed mortgage payments (arrears)  

See also: