Q Is there a difference between having treatment at a National Health Service dentist and a private one? My friend and I are both State pensioners. He says he gets assistance with his dental costs because his dentist is part of the NHS, whereas I pay the full cost. Can you clarify this?

A Certain people qualify for full or partial help with their dental costs, but only if the treatment is provided by an NHS dentist. People who get free treatment on the NHS include those on Income Support and pension Credit (Guarantee Credit). If you have too much money coming in to qualify for these benefits, you may still be eligible for partial help. The claim form is HC1, available from NHS dentists

Q Could we claim anything off our Council Tax of £108 a month? My wife and I have joint pensions of £138.18 a week plus a miners' pension of £94.64 a week. I also have Industrial Injuries of £12.01 a week and my wife has a weekly pension from the council of £5.36. We both get Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for mobility.

A The more Council Tax you have to pay, the more likely it is that you are paying too much. You are paying about £7 a week too much. DLA is ignored when Council Tax Benefit is assessed.

Q My husband is 76 with a four-weekly State Pension of £402.60. His private pension is £215.69 a month and my State Pension is £191.72 four weekly. We have £5,800 in savings. Can we claim Pension Credit?

A Yes. £5.33 a week. Make sure you are getting a rebate on your Council Tax as well, because you should only be paying about £240 a year.

Q My wife and I have a weekly income of £257.58 made up of State, works and private pensions plus Industrial Injuries Benefit. We have savings of £6,400. Are we due any reduction on our Council Tax of £83 a month?

A Yes you are, but only 50 pence a week.