Mortgage Relief faqs
What is the Delaware Mortgage Relief Program?
Delaware Mortgage Relief Program provides financial assistance to Delaware homeowners who are at risk of displacement due to unpaid mortgage payments.
Who is eligible for the Delaware Mortgage Relief Program?
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Own and occupy their home in Delaware as their primary residence.
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The homeowner/borrower must have experienced a pandemic-related financial hardship that occurred after January 21, 2020, such as lost income or increased expenses.
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Household income at or below 150% Area Median Income (AMI) for mortgage relief. Click here to find your AMI.
- Household income at or below 80% Area Median Income (AMI) for home repairs. Click here to find your AMI.
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Homeowner’s first mortgage is a conforming loan and meets the federal limits for the year in which the loan was originated.
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Homeowners applying for the ‘Reinstatement’ program must be at least 30 days past due on mortgage payments and/or housing-related expenses.*
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*Additional underwriting criteria may apply.
What is Area Median Income (AMI)? How do I find it?
AMI is the midpoint income for a specific area. 50% of families in the area earn more than the median and 50% earn less than the median. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) sets different levels of AMI for areas across the country by household size.
AMI is used to determine eligibility for affordable housing programs at the federal and local levels. For the Delaware Mortgage Relief Program, applicants must be at or below 150% Area Median Income (AMI) or 100% of the median income for the United States, whichever is greater.
See below for maximum household income based on your household size and county or find your AMI here.
County | 1 Person | 2 Person | 3 Person | 4 Person | 5 Person | 6 Person |
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New Castle | $117,200 | $133,950 | $150,700 | $167,400 | $180,800 | $194,200 |
Kent | $96,200 | $98,050 | $110,300 | $122,550 | $132,400 | $142,200 |
Sussex | $96,200 | $106,700 | $120,050 | $133,350 | $144,050 | $154,700 |
What specific documents does the homeowner need to provide with the application?
- Identity Documentation – Copy of the front of your Delaware Driver’s License or State-issued ID
- Copy is valid, legible and the License or State-issued ID has not expired
- If the License or State-issued ID does not show your property address, you must provide a current utility bill showing the name and address of applicant and/or complete a statement of why a different address is being used
- Income Documentation – Current income for all household members 18 years and older. The following documents will be accepted as income verification (only applicable documents are required):
- Tax Return – Most recent filed tax return
- Paystubs – Two most recent paychecks or paystubs or letter from employer showing payment rate for the pay period, hours worked in the pay period, employer name, year-to-date gross earnings
- Self-Employment and Gig Economy Jobs – YTD or most recent quarterly profit and loss statement, all pages of statements for all bank accounts (business and personal) for the same current year and three-month period, and most recent tax return with all schedules or transcript
- Pension or Annuity – Pension or annuity benefits statements or most recent bank statement within the last 60 days showing deposit amount
- Social Security – Social Security benefits award letter or annual notice of benefits or 2020 SSA-199 statement or most recent bank statement showing deposit amount dated within the past 30 days
- Worker’s Compensation Benefits Statement – Worker’s Compensation benefits statements dated within the past 30 days
- Rental or boarder income – Current lease and most recent two months of bank statements showing rental income deposits
- Alimony or Child Support – Court order or written agreement and two most recent months of bank statements showing support income deposits
- Unemployment Benefits Statement – Unemployment benefits most recent statements (Unemployment benefits are only included if the benefit is available for at least 6 additional months)
- VA Benefits Statement – VA Benefits statements or most recent bank statements showing deposit amount
- Waivers or exceptions – DSHA may provide waivers or exceptions to this documentation requirement as reasonably necessary to accommodate extenuating circumstances, such as disabilities, practical challenges related to the pandemic, or a lack of technological access by homeowners.
A household with no income is not eligible for program assistance.
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Property Verification Mortgage Documentation – Mortgage documentation and foreclosure status
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- Copy of your mortgage related documents
- Current mortgage statement for all mortgage loans on the property
- Correspondence from the lender/servicer regarding current loss mitigation
- Foreclosure Sale Date Letter, foreclosure filing or other foreclosure documentation from the Courts
If you are seeking assistance on other delinquent housing related expenses:-
- Billing statements
- If your property taxes are not included in your mortgage payment (also known as escrow), copy of your most recent property tax statement
Pandemic related financial hardship and Third-Party Authorization-
- Delaware Mortgage Relief Program Hardship Attestation Form and supporting documentation Completed Third Party Authorization Form
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What can the Delaware Mortgage Relief Program funds be used for?
How much Delaware Mortgage Relief Program assistance can I apply for?
Is assistance from the Delaware Mortgage Relief Program provided to homeowners as a grant or a loan?
The Delaware Mortgage Relief Program funds are issued in the form of non-recourse grants, that homeowners do not need to repay.
How are Delaware Mortgage Relief Program payments made?
Once a homeowner’s application is approved, the payments are made directly to the mortgage lender/servicer or appropriate entity to bring the homeowner current on their payments.
Payments are made directly to the vendor by either ACH/direct deposit or check.
Can the Delaware Mortgage Relief Program help if the Homeowner has already moved out of the property?
No. In order to be eligible for assistance, the homeowner must currently occupy the home as their primary residence.
What types of properties are eligible for Delaware Mortgage Relief Program assistance?
- Single-family (attached or detached) property
- Condominium unit
- 1 to 4-unit property where homeowner lives in a unit as their primary residence
- Manufactured home permanently affixed to real property and taxed as real estate
- Mobile home not permanently affixed to real property (with the exception of lot rent)
I don’t have internet or computer access. How do I apply for Delaware Mortgage Relief Program?
My application was denied for Delaware Mortgage Relief Program. What should I do now?
If I am approved for Delaware Mortgage Relief Program, how quickly can I receive assistance?
Can I be reimbursed for a payment(s) I have already made, but could not afford?
What if I can’t afford to continue making my monthly mortgage payments?
If you qualify for the program and can’t continue making your monthly mortgage payments after receiving program assistance, then the program will provide funding to “Reinstate” your mortgage. “Reinstate” means pay the total amount past due (not to exceed the maximum amount of assistance.)
If you cannot afford to continue making your monthly mortgage payments, you are encouraged to contact a housing counselor and/or your loan servicer to explore available options.
What is forbearance? Am I eligible for Delaware Mortgage Relief Program assistance if my loan is in forbearance?
Forbearance is when your mortgage servicer allows you to pause or reduce your mortgage payments for a period of time. Homeowners who are in forbearance are encouraged to contact their loan servicers to explore options to exit forbearance. Homeowners who are exiting forbearance are eligible for Delaware Mortgage Relief Program assistance.
Why does the application ask about my ethnicity and race?
This information is requested by the federal government to track performance and equal access to assistance. You are not required to provide this information but are encouraged to do so. If you do not wish to provide this information, please check the appropriate box.
Am I eligible for the program if my house is in foreclosure?
Yes, the Delaware Mortgage Relief Program was established to mitigate financial hardships associated with the pandemic by providing funds for the purpose of preventing homeowner mortgage delinquencies, defaults, foreclosures, loss of utilities and displacement of a homeowner after January 21, 2020.
Do I have to pay a fee to apply for the Delaware Mortgage Relief Program?
No. Under no circumstances may a homeowner applicant be charged an application fee or charged a fee for third party services to apply
I filed for bankruptcy. Am I still eligible for the Delaware Mortgage Relief Program?
Yes, applicants in any stage of bankruptcy may be eligible for assistance through the program. The two primary factors to be mindful of are, some mortgage servicers may require approval from the court to participate. Additionally, the program will not know if approval is required until after connecting with the mortgage servicer.