Q I am coming up to 65 and have a State pension of £98, reduced council tax, and that is all. I live alone and am waiting for my claim for Attendance Allowance to be decided. Can I claim Pension Credit?

A At present, you are due that part of Pension Credit called Guarantee Credit, and this is £4.10 a week. When you reach 65, you will be due the additional Savings Credit which will be £12.33. If you get Attendance Allowance, be sure and tell the Pension Credit people. It could give you an extra £45 a week Pension Credit on top of the Attendance Allowance.

Q I am 82, living alone and paying rent of £17.87 a week and £293 council tax. I have a miner's pension of £88 a year and one from Legal and General of £170 a year. My savings are £7,717. Can I get Pension Credit?

A You do not say what your State Pension is but if it is less than £130 a week you should certainly qualify.

Q I have just gone on to a State Pension of £131 a week, in addition to my works pension of £324 a month net and my wife's of £170 a month. We pay mortgage of £183 a month and council tax of £807 a year. Can we claim Pension Credit or Council Tax Benefit?

A Although an allowance for mortgage interest is included in the Pension Credit calculation, I am afraid your income is too high for you to qualify. But you could claim £1.60 a week Council Tax Benefit.

Q I am a widower of 71 with a weekly State Pension of £90.61 and £22 a week from my ex-employer. My savings are £1,500. Can I get Pension Credit and if so, how do I claim?

A You are due £10.59 a week and you can claim it by phoning 0800 99 1234.

Q I am 65 and my wife is 62. Our weekly income from state and works pensions comes to £277.44. Our savings are £6,000. Our council tax is £1,410 a year. Are we eligible for any reduction?

A The higher your council tax, the more likely you are to qualify for a rebate. You are due £6.63 a week.