State pension - widower confusion

deutsch

My father's NI contributions were not to the maximum amount and neither were my mother's NI. My father does not receive the full basic state pension (pre 2016). He received an amount called "money for other people" when my mother was alive. She has now passed away. He received a letter stating he's entitled to this (It makes sense and I've calculated the reduction - the letter didn't state the amount but it matches money for other people).

The confusing part I want to ask is, on an AgeUK help booklet (When someone dies), it says a widower may be able to use their partner's NI contributions to increase the basic state pension. I've tried to find a similar document, but all I've found is this:

https://www.ageuk.org.uk/globalassets/age-uk/documents/factsheets/fs19_state_pension_fcs.pdf

in particular, 11.6

If you are widowed or a surviving civil partner
If you did not remarry or form a civil partnership before reaching State
Pension age, you may be able to use their NI contributions to increase
your basic State Pension up to a maximum of £125.95 a week. This
applies if you had reached State Pension age when your partner died.
The amount depends on your own, and your late spouse’s or civil
partner’s, NI contributions record.

So I'm confused now....Can anyone shed some light?

kidmugsy

Was your mother's pension smaller or larger than your father's?

xylophone

Was your father was receiving "adult dependency increase"
in respect of your mother?

Was your father's pension higher than your mother's and she had no inheritable additional state pension?

Therefore your father now receives only the state pension to which he is entitled?

Is he now eligible for pension credit?

https://www.ageuk.org.uk/globalassets/age-uk/documents/factsheets/fs48_pension_credit_fcs.pdf