Reimbursment/payment - welfare situation

[kurtf]

Is it possible to reimburse a mortgage payment directly to the individual or does it need to be paid the mortgage company directly? He pays it directly online, but I don't think the church has a way to pay it directly w/o check? I think generally for welfare payments, we've always paid the company/utility directly.

Thank you!

[russellhltn]

Others would know better, but in those situations, I think the church suggests funding other things (like food) to free up money for the mortgage.

[eblood66]

Handbook 1 section 5.2.4 is your guide here.

Personally, I'd suggest looking for ways of paying other things first (as russellhltn suggests) and checking and making sure there is no way to pay by check (usually there is a way even if that isn't how the member usually pays). If there is no other way then I'd get more documentation than usual for a mortgage payment. I'd try to get documentation showing the payment was actually made (not just that it was due or required) and I'd add a note (signed by the bishop) describing the situation. I might even make sure the stake is aware of the situation before hand so that if any questions come up during the audit, the situation isn't a surprise to the stake.

[russellhltn]

Handbook 1 section 5.2.4 is your guide here.

I think there's some other resources from the stake as well. I think the concern I have is how likely is this to come up again? Is this a one-time thing, or did the family overextend themselves and are now unable to cope with "normal" emergencies?

A general guideline is that welfare is to "sustain life, not lifestyle". A mortgage payment is or can quickly become the latter category. Also see item #5 in the Handbook about "consumer debt".

I agree that getting the stake involved would be wise.