DURHAM County Council's welfare rights service says men must apply today 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 the claim must be put today 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 should 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 (Derwentside).