Widowers in North Yorkshire were today waiting with bated breath for a Government announcement that could transform their lives.

Social Security Secretary Alastair Darling was expected to reveal in the Commons this afternoon that widowers will in future be entitled to receive the equivalent of the widow's pension, on a means-tested basis.

And widowed women will in future be subject to means-testing before they can receive the widow's benefit, although existing claimants look likely to be able to continue claiming their money. But it was unclear today whether existing widowers would in future be able to claim the benefit, or whether the change would only apply to men widowed in future.

York widower Frank Healy, who lives in Dringhouses, was left to bring up his two children, Scott and Stuart, alone when his wife Linda died four years ago, said it would be totally unfair if existing widowers were not entitled to the benefit.

He also argued that retrospective payments should be made for the past ten years, when the money should have been paid out to widowers.

Mr Healy says the lack of benefit has left him on a very low income, unable to provide Scott, seven, and Stuart, 11, with many of the things he would like. He says that, had he died rather than his wife, they would have been far better off financially.

The Government has been forced to act because the European Court of Human Rights is expected to rule in favour of widower Kevin Willis, who has lodged a claim arguing that the current system discriminates against men.

Mr Healy has previously offered to be used in a test-case if Mr Willis was unable to go to the court.

Mr Darling has warned that simply extending the benefit to men would cost taxpayers an extra £250 million a year.

He has made it clear he wants to focus the benefit on those in greatest need by incorporating a means test. Mr Darling has said it is wrong that women with well-paid jobs should receive a weekly pension, but has stressed that those already receiving the benefit will not be affected by the changes.

see COMMENT 'Widowers are due this cash'

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