SDLP Foyle MLA Mark H Durkan has warned that the support for those with a mortgage and claiming benefit is to change dramatically.

Mr Durkan said: “We have learned from the Department of the Communities that support for their Mortgage Interest will change from a benefit to a loan. This means that from 6th April 2018 all existing and new claimants getting an income based benefit and deemed by the DFC as entitled to help, will be offered a loan.

"Those who accept this loan will have to repay it with interest when the property is sold or ownership transferred. Those who don’t, will have to make alternative arrangements with their mortgage provider to make payments in order to stay in their home. In real terms this means further financial hardship for people who have, for one reason or another, fallen on hard times.

"Given our current housing crisis, where we have thousands of families on social housings waiting lists and nowhere near enough homes being built, supporting people to keep their homes is very important.

"This is an element of Welfare Reform that people here are full opposed to, despite the claims of some parties that they had secured full protection against these cuts and that people would not be affected."

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