Help with pensions?

My father died recently and i'm dealing with all the pension companies. I got a letter today from BlackRock saying "i can infrom you that you are to benefit and the proceeds will be paid as a one-off cash lump sum. the gross value of the fund to be used for you as at 5 February 2008 was:

拢4,030.61, of which 拢3,357.59 is Protected Rights Benefits."

What does this mean? how much will i get?

Thanks

would it be the whole 4000? i'm the only living relitive. it may sound heartless about i've not got probate yet but there are lots of people wanting money in bulgaria where my dad lived and i'd be keen to pay them back

Protected rights apply to those who opt out of the state second pension (S2P) and before that the State Earnings Related Pension Scheme (Serps). They dictate how the money invested must be used at retirement and are designed to make sure those who opt out do not squander the money.
You will get 拢4030

If your mother is alive, she gets the protected rights as a pension and you get the rest. If she's not, you get the lot as a cash sum.

If you need any more help and would like to talk or e-mail/write to a free, independent and expert service, try the Pensions Advisory Service. TPAS is an independent non-profit organisation that provides free information, advice and guidance on the whole spectrum of pensions covering State, company, personal and stakeholder schemes.

Info at:

http://www.pensionsadvisoryservice.org.u...