My husband died three years ago, why don't I get any of his annuity payments?

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I really would like to know where my husband's money has gone. He was quite astute regarding investments. J.D. Lake District.

Nasty shock: Many spouses stand to receive nothing from their partner's annuity when they die because they haven't chosen a joint life product.

Adam Uren, of This is Money, says: It seems that you have fallen victim to what has been a stain on the pensions industry for years, and that is only just now being addressed.

For years pension holders have defaulted into their pension provider's standard annuity offerings, with many not realising that they need to shop around to find the best deals and, most importantly, the right annuity for them.

Now, I can't speculate on what process your husband went through when he bought his annuity, but Prudential has confirmed that he took out a single life annuity which included a tax-free lump sum of £11,964 in 2002.

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Single life annuities pay a higher level of income than joint life annuities, but payouts stop when the annuitant dies. Had he taken out a joint life annuity, you would have continued to receive some form of an income from the annuity after his death.

While I realise this will provide you with little solace, a new code of conduct for annuity providers came into force on March 1 this year in which insurers have to take steps to actively encourage their pension customers to seek financial advice so they can shop around for the best deal before they take out their annuity.

Not only would seeking advice ensure fewer spouses are left with nothing upon their partner's death, it would also increase their chances of getting a boosted income, as annuity rates vary by as much as 25 per cent between providers.

The Association of British Insurers (ABI) code is also designed so that people with health or lifestyle problems can get bigger payouts, by as much as 40 per cent, through an enhanced annuity.