DURHAM County Council's Welfare Rights service says time is running out for men to claim widowers' benefit.

Men whose wives died before 2001 may be able to make a claim for the benefit, which they were not able to claim before 2001.

But they need to put in the claim before Friday or they will miss out.

Chris Graham, the council's principal welfare rights officer, said: "Any widower making a first claim needs to give written details why he thinks it is legitimate and why it is late.

"As men couldn't claim before April 9, 2001, that in itself could be a good reason for claiming.

"All literature and leaflets from the Department for Work and Pensions referred to widows not widowers.

"If, however, widowers were on other benefits at the time, such as Retirement Pension, Incapacity Benefit or Income Support, it is unlikely that their claim would succeed as those benefits count as income," he said.

Anyone who thinks they are eligible can contact their local JobCentre office.

Further advice is available from Welfare Rights on 0191-383 6085 (Durham), 0191-518 2598 (Easington), (01388) 744428 (Wear Valley), (01325) 309402 (Sedgefield) and (01207) 291535 (Derwent-side).