5 . How the loans are made
You will be sent a letter confirming when the SMI loans will start. The SMI loans will normally go straight to the mortgage lender. The SMI loans are paid monthly, in arrears.
Qualifying period – There is normally a ‘qualifying period’ before SMI loans can be paid. You are not eligible for SMI loans until you have been entitled to universal credit for three consecutive monthly assessment periods.
If you (or your former partner) were entitled (or treated as entitled) to a pre-universal credit means-tested benefit at any time in the month before claiming universal credit, and this benefit covered interest payments or allowed a claim for SMI loans, you will not have to serve the qualifying period again to be eligible for SMI loans via your universal credit award.