Q My wife has just reached 60 but gets no State pension as she only paid married woman's National Insurance. She has a pension from her employer. Can I claim anything on my long-term Incapacity Benefit for her?

A You could claim £43.15 a week for her, but only if her works pension is under £54.65 a week.

Q I have Incapacity Benefit of £72.15 a week. Now that my wife is 60, I understand I can claim an addition to this for her. She has a State Pension of £44.97 a week.

A You cannot claim extra for her, I am afraid. This is because she has a State Pension of more than £43.15.

Q My 83-year-old mother was awarded Pension Credit that brought her income up to £110 a week. Now they tell her that this should only have been £97 and she owes them £220 due to an overpayment. Is this correct?

A If she did not include all her income in her claim form, she may have been overpaid. In this event, she can be asked to pay the money back as the mistake was hers.

Q I am 72 with a State Pension of £95 a week, a works pension of £81 a month and £7,200 savings. Can I get Pension Credit and, if so, will it affect the housing and council tax benefit (HB/CTB) I already receive?

A You could get £9 a week Pension Credit but be prepared to lose up to £7.65 of it through reduced HB/CTB.

Q Our joint State Pensions are £188.47 a week and we have a works pension of £153.56 a month. Our rent is £48.35 a week and council tax £759.97 a year. Are we entitled to any help?

A You are due Council Tax Benefit of £4.86 a week and Housing Benefit that will reduce your basic rent to £31.70.

Q Together, our State Pensions total £94.62 and our joint works pensions are £127 a week. Our savings are £12,000. Can we get help with our rent of £49.99 and Council Tax of £24.25 a week?

A Your State Pensions seem a bit low. A couple usually get at least £123. But if that is so, then you are paying around £18 a week too much.