6.  The applicant was born in 1959 and lives in County Down. 7.  His wife died on 16 November 1998, leaving him with three children born in 1993, 1995 and 1998. His claim for widows' benefits was made on 22 December 1998 and was rejected on 23 February 1999 on the ground that he was not entitled to widows' benefits because he was not a woman. The applicant lodged an appeal on 1 April 1999, which was heard and dismissed by the Social Security Tribunal on 20 April 2000. 8.  The applicant was born in 1965 and lives in Northern Ireland. 9.  His wife died on 11 June 1996, leaving him with three children born in 1989, 1994 and 1996. His claim for widows' benefits was made on 23 May 1997 and was rejected on 30 November 1998 on the ground that he was not entitled to widows' benefits because he was not a woman. The applicant lodged an appeal on 30 November 1998, which was heard and dismissed by the Social Security Tribunal on 20 April 2000. 10.  The applicant was born in 1963 and lives in Belfast. 11.  His wife died on 10 February 2000, leaving him with two children born in 1991 and 1998. His claim for widows' benefits was made on 10 February 2000 and was rejected on 14 April 2000 on the ground that he was not entitled to widows' benefits because he was not a woman. The applicant did not appeal as he considered or was advised that such a remedy would be bound to fail since no such social security benefits were payable to widowers under United Kingdom law.