Q I am on Statutory Sick Pay of £64.35 a week and my wife has a State Pension of £41.82. Our savings are £18,000. You recently told a reader in the same circumstances that he could get Council Tax Benefit (CTB), but I was refused because my savings are over £16,000. Why?

A £16,000 is the savings limit for CTB, except where the person receives the Guarantee Credit part of Pension Credit (PC). You would qualify for this as your income is about £25 below the guaranteed level. So claim PC by ringing 0800 991234 (or your wife should if you are not yet 60) and you will automatically be awarded full CTB as well.

Q Are we entitled to any Council Tax Benefit (CTB), as my husband is on top rate Attendance Allowance (AA)? Will our income and savings be taken into account if we claim?

A Having AA in itself will not reduce council tax. CTB depends upon your income and savings, although AA and the first £6,000 of your savings would be ignored. You will be treated more generously in your CTB application if you first claim underlying entitlement to Carer's Allowance from the Department for Work and Pensions.

Q My husband and I receive the high rate of Disability Living Allowance for care and mobility plus Incapacity Benefit of £82.38 and £81.85 respectively. Our daughter has Carer's Allowance for looking after us. Is there anything else we can claim?

A It is probably worthwhile claiming Council Tax Benefit. You should be paying no more than £470 a year and much less still if you are 60 or over.

Q My State Pension is £77.98, plus Industrial Injuries of £17.52 a week, mobility of £159.80 a month and £36 a month in respect of my late husband. I am 73 and my savings are about £3,500. Should I be claiming anything?

A You could claim Pension Credit of £14.12 a week, leading to a council tax rebate that would leave you hardly anything to pay.