Emmajon

My hubby and I are in Canada for 6 years now. We have been paying mortgage for our home for past 2 years. I got it through a mortgage broker in Edmonton, >link removed< if that makes any difference. He used to work on the field and had a reasonable income. While he was off duty he got into an auto accident and lost one of his leg. Obviously, he is not fit for the job anymore, but his employer was kind enough to give him a desk job, but for a much lesser salary. The personal injury case is going on, but I don't think a quick decision will come. We can live, but it would have been great if our monthly mortgage payment is reduced and duration is increased, due to our lesser income. Is it even possible? Will a disabled person gets such kind of consideration? Can anyone provide any advice about it?

DandNHill

Surely providing you can still prove you are in stable jobs it won't matter. They can't discriminate because he has lost a limb!

Pulaski

If you are having difficulty paying your mortgage it never hurts to have a conversation with your mortgage lender to see if the terms can be varied, but that is far from certain.

A more objective question is whether you qualify for a different mortgage (longer term, lower monthly payments) based on your husband's new lower income? If the answer is "yes" then a refinance might be the way forward for you.

Aviator

Not that straightforward. An employer cannot discriminate on disability if the employee is capable for doing the same job. They also have a duty to accommodate, making adaptations. In situations where the employee cannot do the same job or it causes economic hardship on the employee they may be able to make a decision based on physical abilities. This would be one for an employment lawyer.

As far as the mortgage is concerned, ability to pay is the only criteria to get a mortgage. Personal circumstances changing only concerns a lender if they may not get paid. Certainly a conversation would be worthwhile. If the mortgage comes up for renewal, this is going to be another hurdle.

The injury lawyer should be able to help more with this.

I also wonder, if the OPs husband had the accident during work time in the field, or it was during personal time. This could also make a difference.

Siouxie

Do you have Mortgage Protection Insurance? Depending on the company providing it, you could get help with your mortgage payments due to the disability.

Do you have life insurance, disability insurance or critical illness insurance? Was he covered under a company plan for this, perhaps (Group insurance)? Does it include loss of limb? You should check!

Have you approached your Mortgage Broker to see if you could extend the mortgage period to reduce the payments?