11. How long can the loans continue?
Once SMI loans have been set up, they can continue indefinitely. They will stop, however, in the following circumstances:
■you are no longer entitled, or treated as entitled, to a qualifying benefit (see
1 above) – see below for an exception if you or your partner start work;
■you are no longer liable, or treated as liable, to make owner-occupier payments (
see 2 and
4 above);
■you are no longer occupying, and cannot be treated as occupying, your home (see
5 above);
or ■the loan agreement ends, in accordance with its terms.
If you want to stop getting SMI loans, you can do this at any time. You will still have to repay the SMI loans, plus the interest, that you have received so far (see
13 below).
Starting work – If you or your partner start work
, and consequently are no longer entitled to a qualifying benefit, you may continue to get SMI loans for the first four weeks (see
Chapter 35(5)).