Q I am a 55-year-old housewife, unable to work because I am waiting for a knee operation. Why can't I get Incapacity Benefit (IB) or anything else?

A You can only get IB if you have recently paid full National Insurance contributions. You could only get a disability benefit if you had care needs or had severe walking difficulties. For other benefits, your husband's income would probably rule you out.

Q If my only income is a pension of £106.61 a week and savings of £4,000, what Pension Credit can I claim?

A £13 a week if you are 65 or over.

Q My State Pension is £92.60 a week and my mineworker's pension is £200.22 a month. My rent is £43.35 a week and my council tax is £63 a month. Can I get a reduction?

A Certainly. You are paying about £20 a week too much.

Q Is it true that now Pension Credit is here, savings will not be counted for Council Tax Benefit and Housing Benefit (CTB/HB)?

A No. People who get Guarantee Credit, the new name for Minimum Income Guarantee, will get maximum CTB/HB regardless of their level of savings. For all others, the £16,000 savings cut off for CTB/HB will continue to apply.

Q My income is £87.93 a week State Pension, £35.04 Industrial Injuries and a works pension of £45.99 a month. My wife's pension is £52.15 a week and she has Maximum Disability Living Allowance of £388.60 a month. Are we due Pension Credit?

A Yes, £7.25 a week but, yet again, if you claim underlying entitlement to Carer's Allowance for looking after your wife, you will get £17.29.

Q My husband and I are both on State Pensions plus Income Support and he has Attendance Allowance. I was going to claim Carer's Allowance but have heard it will only be deducted from other benefits. Is this right?

A Your State Retirement Pension will prevent you from getting Carer's Allowance but claim it anyway. This will give you an underlying entitlement to it and this means an extra £25.10 to your Income Support, now called Pension Credit.

John Gordon will answer as many questions as possible through this column, but regrets he is unable to send personal replies.