Why is half of my reward money being given to someone else?

I had, after performing an act of heroism to a high placed dignitary, been asked as to what I would like as a token of gratitude for the act of heroism rendered.  I asked that I would be given enough money so as to avoid the dismal fate of a senior without any funds.  I stated because of my dismal situation to date, that the sum should not a small one as it would be used for the rest of my life.  As this discussion took place someone came up and said my brother should receive some money as well. Since he was much more affluent than men and I was already embarrassed I felt this was inappropriate but I do believe, as far as memory serves me, my brother receive some funds as well and this despite the fact he had refused to take place in any of the action concerning this act since it was to be dangerous. He stated, not for the first and last time, he had responsibility to his family and did not want to get involved.  IF he is still receiving half of the money I was to receive for life, well, then that this twice the sum of a meagre fund.

The only trace of this money existing and being given to others in my family is in my memory. There is no trace of the practice in any form through the auspices of the government either through paper, conversation or in the yearly tax statements. So, has my reward money been divided in half, one part going to my brother who is much more affluent than me? 

Now neatly, without a sound, without a problem, do I receive every month half of the money that I was originally supposed to have? Is the money given without a problem and without any visible trace by the system? Is this standard? How come I didn't even think about this possibility until now? Nor question it.

And second, when I was told that I should give half my reward money to the other members of my family, (who are much more affluent and financially stable than me, not to mention, hostile) how come I agreed? And how did I look? did I look incapable of handling money? or contemptuous of money? or a Wastrel?   Am I being promoted as this? And most of all, how come I agreed and have not said a word about this practice until now. Is the grateful dignitary being thus twice imposed on? Am I being looked upon as greedy? Or unconcerned about changing my impoverished situation which is considerable.

One more thing.  If I did not know that I am being represented as willingly giving half my reward money to another more affluent entity, then how can I state that this is far from true. As a matter of fact, how can I defend myself?  If I am under the assumption that the sum is a normal sum of money that one can expect to live from the state pension, how can I protest the sum given to my brother when faced with a condemning and sensitive state system?