Gorton phone bill mystery solved

Former prime minister John Gorton's widow ran up a modest phone bill in 2014.

Parliamentary Services has paid a 2014 bill for phone expenses to John Gorton, who died in 2002. (AAP)

The mystery behind the late prime minister John Gorton's 2014 phone bill has been solved.

New figures released by the Department of Parliamentary Services show the former leader, who died in 2002, racked up a $2.69 phone bill in the first half of 2014.

However, a DPS spokeswoman told AAP on Tuesday the charges were incurred by Nancy Gorton, Mr Gorton's widow.

"Surviving spouses or de facto partners of former prime ministers are eligible for the entitlement," the spokeswoman said.

The phone usage is a far cry from the $7705 the very much alive Kevin Rudd claimed in phone expenses for the same period.