OUTRAGED armed forces groups last night attacked the "appalling" decision to take away the benefit of a disabled man whose wife is serving in Iraq.

The Northern Echo revealed yesterday how part of Michael Blackburn's incapacity benefit had been withdrawn because of his wife Pat's service with the Territorial Army.

Mr Blackburn, from Peterlee, County Durham, has lost the extra £44 a week he was able to claim on behalf of his wife as she has earned a full-time wage for the last two months in her role as a TA reservist.

Last night, both the Royal British Legion and the Soldiers Sailors and Airmen's Families Association (SSAFA) hit out at social security chiefs while at the same time pledging help for Mr Blackburn.

Mark Colacicchi, county field officer for the Royal British Legion in the North-East, said: "In my opinion it is absolutely appalling that this income is being taken away.

"This would seem to be an exceptional case and isn't something that we have come across before.

"The family of the lady involved need help and we would be willing to go and visit them to see what we can do to assist."

A spokesman for the Soldiers Sailors and Airmen's Families Association (SSAFA) said: "It's atrocious but then the benefits people are obviously well within their rights to do this.

"We will try and contact this person and offer help and advice."

Mr Blackburn's case has also attracted support from Easington MP John Cummings, who said he was "pursuing matters through the appropriate Government departments".

The former miner, who also has a teenage son, Wayne, serving as a soldier in the Gulf, had to give up his job at Easington Colliery 20 years ago because of a combination of asthma, bronchitis and high blood pressure.

At that time, sickness benefit included an extra sum for a claimant's wife, which Mr Blackburn claimed until recently.

But when sickness and invalidity benefits were replaced by the new incapacity benefit in 1995, the rules changed.

Those receiving the old benefit were still allowed to claim the extra cash - but this would be taken away if the claimant's wife earned above £53.95 a week for more than eight weeks.

Mrs Blackburn, a lance corporal in the TA, previously fell under the threshold, only having a part-time job until her call-up to serve in Iraq.

Any new claim for the extra sum under the changed rules is now only payable to a wife over 60 or if a couple have dependent children, so Mr Blackburn will miss out.

Andy Collins, a spokesman for the Department of Work and Pensions in the North-East, said: "We eventually have to draw the line somewhere.

"He would have been notified of the change at the time it was made and to be fair everyone has to be treated the same whatever their occupation."

Mr Blackburn added: "I am not bothered about losing the benefit at the moment because Pat is earning.

"The point is when she comes back, we are going to be worse off because of this rule."