New help for mortgage strugglers

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Thousands more will qualify for help with interest payments after the threshold for qualification was raised and the waiting period slashed by two thirds to 13 weeks.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown promised to do everything possible to prevent people losing their homes to the recession - with experts predicting up to 75,000 repossessions this year.

And he is beginning a week of efforts to combat rising unemployment by addressing business leaders at a meeting of the Regional Economic Council he set up to help co-ordinate action.

The PM's claims that about 100,000 jobs will be created or protected by bringing forward £10 billion of public projects were welcomed by unions but dismissed as spin by the Tories.

But Work and Pensions Secretary James Purnell said: "We have changed the rules to make sure even more people can get help with their mortgage payments if they lose their job.

"We have brought in changes as quickly as possible so people don't have to wait too long for this support. Every time someone loses their job it is a personal tragedy. Jobcentre Plus is on hand to help people get back to work as quickly as possible."

Mr Purnell told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the 100,000 jobs announced by the Prime Minister were "all new". Help for homeowners during the recession was part of a "comprehensive raft of measures" being taken by the Government, he said.

"For example, if people have two earners in their household and one of them loses their job, we're working on a scheme with the banks where they would be able to reduce their mortgage payments for two years to get themselves through that difficult period," he said. Mr Purnell said that during previous recessions, support was cut and people were left to "sink or swim".

The benefit changes, which come into force immediately, mean people with mortgages of up to £200,000 - double the previous cut off - will qualify for Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI). At present 230,000 households receive cash via SMI, available to those who are already receiving a means tested benefit, getting an average £40 a week.