A WIDOWER who was sucked into the poverty trap after campaigning for a fairer deal for widowed parents is celebrating a new victory.

Frank Healy has won his battle with benefits chiefs who, he claims, "punish" partners who have lost loved ones.

Mr Healy and his two sons, Scott and Stuart, were surviving on meagre benefits since his wife, Linda, died from a brain haemorrhage seven years ago.

He embarked on a campaign urging the Government to introduce payments to widowed men with children.

Mr Healy, of Dringhouses, won that fight, but found it made him worse off as council chiefs stripped him of many of his other benefits.

He had stepped over a Government benefit threshold and as the stress of trying to make ends meet took its toll, Mr Healy ended up in hospital suffering with a severe skin condition.

But now the father-of-two is delighted after benefits bosses looked again at his claims and re-evaluated them, wiping out a £26 loss.

Mr Healy said: "I am absolutely over the moon. It means my children will look forward to a much better future.

"I am, give or take about £3, on a par with where I was before. It might not seem huge, but it makes a big difference.

"I would advise anyone in the same position to chase up their benefits. Don't sit back and accept them. After all, it hasn't done me any harm.

"I will still be paying for school meals but I can't complain about that. I am just delighted."

A City of York Council spokesman: "We cannot comment on individual cases but we always advise people to come to talk to us if they feel they are unhappy with their benefits assessment.

"The system can be complicated and circumstances change or people might bring forward more information.

"The Government makes the rules and the council has to apply them but we are absolutely committed to helping people claim all the benefits they are entitled to.

"Anyone seeking help should contact our advice team on (01904) 613131. Our message is: talk to us, we want to help."

Updated: 08:51 Thursday, October 11, 2001