Q After reading your answer about underlying entitlement to Carer's Allowance (CA), I rang the Carer's Service in Preston. They said you were wrong and that you cannot get CA on top of a State pension. So what is the point of claiming CA?

A You cannot get CA on top of State Pension and I have never said any different. But, if this is the only thing stopping you getting CA, you have an underlying entitlement to it. This will give you more favourable treatment if you claim Pension Credit and Council Tax Benefit.

Q Our combined State Pensions are £135.49 a week and I have £19-a-week works pension. Our savings are £8,787 and I have DLA (mobility) of £159.80 a month. Can we get Pension Credit?

A Yes. £17.73 a week. DLA is ignored.

Q I am a widow of 66 with a weekly income from pensions of £143.27 and £50 from my boarder. Can I get help with my Council Tax of £779.17 a year?

A Yes. A Council Tax rebate of £6.71 a week. Only £15 of your lodger's money is taken into account.

Q Although my Incapacity Benefit has stopped, I doubt if I will work again. My savings are £50,000 from an accident compensation payment. I do not think I can get Pension Credit (PC). Am I right?

A What other income do you have?

There is no capital cut-off limit for PC, so if you have nothing but your savings and have reached 60, then you could claim £14 a week.

Q My contribution-based Jobseeker's Allowance is about to run out and my State Pension is due in April.

Can I claim anything like Minimum Income Guarantee (MIG) between now and then? Will my savings count? I have a works pension of £68 a week. My wife's State Pension is only 76p every four weeks.

A You might get Pension Credit (formerly known as MIG) depending on your savings. In your case, it would be worth claiming as long as your savings are under £49,000.