How can I receive my mother's pension?

Question

My mother passed away almost 2 years ago and I recently received a letter that indicates that she might have had a pension. Is there anything that I can do about receiving the money?

Edward Armstrong · Answer

It depends on the pension plan.  You need to contact the former employer about claiming whatever funds are there.  Your mother may have designated a beneficiary to receive funds in the event she passed prior to full payment of the benefit.  If it really is a "pension" plan and your mother made no contributions to this, you may not have any right to anything.  You need to contact the company.  If they say they need a court order, it's too late to open a probate estate but you can begin a proceeding called "Determination of Heirship."  You need an attorney to do this for you.

Kathleen Delacy · Answer

Contact them to see if it passes to her beneficiaries.

Georges Shers · Answer

You need to check with her former employer if there was a pension that survives her death.

Loren Lambert · Answer

Try to informally find out this information from her employer and if this doesn't work you may need to get an attorney and open a probate action. She may have designated a beneficiary to her pension if she had any type of the pension that paid after her death.

Victor Waid · Answer

You need to contact the pension administrator who sent you the notice and follow their procedures in making a claim.

Jonathan Shimberg · Answer

Normally pensions do not pass on to the pensioner's children.  While she might have had a pension, it does not mean you would get anything. you need to talk to the tension administrator.

James Frederick · Answer

You would need to contact the company to see if: 1) there was a death benefit, and 2) whether or not there were any beneficiaries designated. If there was no death benefit, then the pension would terminate on your mother's death. If there were beneficiaries designated, the benefits would pass to the beneficiaries outside of probate. Otherwise, probate would be necessary.

Dara J. Goldsmith · Answer

Apply with her former employer for benefits.  Best of luck to you.  This information is only intended to give general information in response to an inquiry.  It does not establish an attorney client relationship.  This response is only based upon the limited facts presented and is merely intended to assist you in determining if you should contact an attorney to provide you with legal advice.

Thomas Edward Gates · Answer

It depends upon the amount of the money.  If it is under $100,000 you can receive it by affidavit.  If the are other siblings, they must consent to you receiving it.

Gerald Bagazinski · Answer

You need to file a claim for benefits. I would seek a copy of the summary plan description. Ask an attorney if you have any questions.

Christine Socrates · Answer

You can call or write to the financial company where she has the pension to inquire whether you mother's pension had death benefits, continues after death and whether there was a beneficiary designated.  They should be able to give you that information if you provide them a death certificate.

Christine James · Answer

Yes.  An attorney can help you through the process.  You can try to contact the company directly but they seem to respond better to attorneys.

James Maguire · Answer

Most pension payments terminate when the pensioner is deceased.   Talk to the pension administrator to find out for sure.

Jeffrey Gottlieb · Answer

Contact the pension administrator.

John Brennan · Answer

It is impossible to answer your question without further information. It will be determined by the terms of the pension contract.

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How can I receive my mother's pension?

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