6.  The applicant was born in 1967 and lives in East Sussex. 7.  His wife died on 7 April 2000, leaving him with two children born in 1995 and 1997. His claim for widows' benefits was made on 23 May 2000 and was rejected on 25 May 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. 8.  The applicant was born in 1956 and lives in Worcestershire. 9.  His wife died on 11 December 1997, leaving him with two children born in 1989 and 1993. His claim for widows' benefits was made in January 1998 and was rejected on 15 January 1998 on the ground that he was not entitled to widows' benefits because he was not a woman. The applicant asked for his claim to be re-opened on 1 May 2000 and it was again rejected on 9 May 2000. 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. 10.  The applicant was born in 1951 and lives in Hertfordshire. 11.  His wife died on 11 April 2000, leaving him with three children born in 1985, 1986 and 1989. His claim for widows' benefits was made on 9 June 2000 and was rejected on 6 July 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. 12.  The applicant was born in 1947 and lives in Middlesex. 13.  His wife died on 3 July 2000, leaving him with two children born in 1986 and 1987. His claim for widows' benefits was made on 21 August 2000 and was rejected on 5 September 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. 14.  The applicant was born in 1965 and lives in Bedford. 15.  His wife died on 4 August 2000, leaving him with two children born in 1993 and 1996. His claim for widows' benefits was made on 15 September 2000 and was rejected on 22 September 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.