<prompt> Human: Hello reddit. Im trying to help out my mom as much as i can during this time. Shes unemployed from a 16 year job as of last year and has been going back to school. They have been living off his income since Feb 2014. With medical bills piling up, and impending funeral costs incoming, is there anyway outside of his life insurance to help cover costs. My mom is 51 and fears she wont be able to access his pension till shes 60. He was employed by the railroad BNSF for 33 years.  <response>: Find out who is administrator for the pension plan and call. All plans are setup differently, some have the option for early commencement at a reduced rate. But the big thing is to call, in some plans it is better to elect an option if eligible to commence rather than waiting for the death benefits to pay. I have emailed forms to get signed by people on their death bed to help the spouses in a few instance.Without knowing the plan I really cant answer anything specific though. 