He would be entitled a to minimum guaranteed pension of £163 so looks like he has claimed pension credit. Can't think where the extra
£38 comes from. Did his wife have a Company/private pension?
If her pension scheme allowed for continuing payments for a spouse, then it's possibly true. Certainty happens the other way around, and it'd be sexist not to work as you describe.
We don't know. You could always ask him to help you get the same amount. Or you could check with the DWP that you are getting your full entitlement. He may be mistaken
nobody versus nobody knows of anybody's correct pension. Unless one knows the full complete details of a person's business you can't work it out.
None of us know yrneh's pal's situation. With pension, pension credit. Yes he could pip to that oh yeah maybe a bit of DLA/PIP. Every person has to be individually assessed.