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Assistance for bereaved mother
Any funding available for mortgage and childcare?
Q. A good friend of mine was tragically killed recently on his 34th birthday leaving a long term partner and their 2 year old daughter. They have no life cover and she is struggling to find a way out of the impossible situation of needing to work to pay the mortgage (she has a job) and providing childcare. Can you offer any suggestions as to whether there is any funding (public or private) available to assist a bereaved person in these circumstances. Whilst most single parents are not single by choice, do these tragic circumstances qualify her to any special treatment, benefits or grants? Many thanks for your time in addressing this query.
Kit
A. Help with housing costs via the benefits system is limited for people with mortgages. A single parent can claim Income Support including help with housing cost if he/she decides not to work. Where Income Support is claimed Council Tax Benefit can also be claimed to cover on going liability in full. Where a long term partner has died, 50% of eligible housing costs are payable 8 weeks after application and 100% after 26 weeks. Eligible housing costs are the interest element of a mortgage the sole purpose of which was to pay for house purchase (including essential repairs). There is a limit to the interest rate payable, which varies roughly in line with base rates, and a limit to the size of the mortgage. Any shortfall will therefore need to be made up by the borrower.
Where there is a repayment mortgage it is important to ask the lender if they will agree to an interest only arrangement. Unfortunately, many lenders will only agree to an interest only arrangement for a limited period and often refuse altogether if there are mortgage arrears.
A single parent whose partner has died would normally qualify for widowed parents allowance if they are under the age of 45 and certain National Insurance contributions requirements are satisfied. This is currently paid at the rate of £ 87 per week. Unfortunately, if Income Support is claimed these payments are taken into account as income when benefit entitlement is calculated.
Help from charities can be available for bereaved people although applications would normally be for a specific purpose, eg the purchase of an essential household appliance.
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