If my spouse died without assigning me the survivor’s benefits, can I still get them?
If a husband died naming his wife as the one to receive the survivor’s benefits, then how can a wife get a pension?
First, do you know if you aren’t already the default recipient of survivor’s benefits merely because you are your late husband’s wife? If so, then your husband didn’t have to do anything to ensure you receive his pension’s survivor’s benefits.
If the pension required your husband to identify a survivor to whom the survivor benefit would be paid upon his death, and if he failed to do that, then depending upon the terms of the pension contract and whether there are any “second chance” laws that may apply in your jurisdiction, you may be out of luck.
This is a question that cannot be answered as a general matter here. You should inquire with a lawyer in state and court that would have jurisdiction over the pension benefits. Don’t delay. Time is of the essence in these situations.
Utah Family Law, LC | divorceutah.com | 801-466-9277