occupational pensions???????

[l15a27]

can anyone tell me what to do about this
6 yrs ago my father died he and my mother were seperated, my mother was made to take on his pensions 2 occupational pensions and widows benefit
she barely has a penny to live on and i dont understand how this all works, can she refuse to take these pensions? why when they were seperated does she have to be on widows benefit? she lives in rented accomodation and pays full rent and council tax ?
if you need more info i can give it to you just didnt want to ramble on
thanks in advance lisa

[lindapinda]

I don't have any answers for you Lisa..but you might get better advice if you try posting this in the Law section :-) Maybe?..Good Luck!

[Keeprockin]

If you father was in a union,i'd recommend you contact the branch secretary and see if there is an explanation. I should have thought that if someoens dies paying pension,then a percentage of the pension should be payed out to the partner,not have the partner still paying.
You definitely need some expert advice