Q We have a joint retirement pension of £181.70 a week as our only income, plus savings of £3,000. Can we get any help with our rent of £51.76 a week and council tax of £777.25 a year?

A You should be getting a Council Tax Rebate of nearly £10 a week and your rent should be no more than £17. With nearly £9 a week Pension Credit due in October, that makes you not far off £50 a week better off.

Q Just how much savings can you have before benefit stops? You have been telling people different things recently.

A You cannot get Minimum Income Guarantee (MIG) with savings over £12,000 or Housing/Council Tax Benefit if they are more than £16,000. But some people with less savings may miss out if their other income is too high. Pension Credit, which replaces MIG in October, will have no savings limit. If your savings are more than £6,000, they will be treated as weekly income of £2 per £1,000.

Q As a woman, born in May 1951, I will have to wait until I am 61 years and two months old before I qualify for my State Pension. I have paid the full stamp from leaving school until redundancy last year. If I never work again, how many years contributions will I have to pay to get the full rate?

A You need 40 years contributions in all, making you five years short. You can cover four of these with Voluntary Contributions (currently £6.95 a week). From 60, you will get National Insurance credited automatically.

Q On your advice I successfully claimed Attendance Allowance (AA). Now I have had my council tax reduced because my son, who lives with me, is not expected to pay towards it. Is this right?

A Yes. There are many advantages of being on AA and this is one of them.

Q My wife and I have State Pensions totalling £124.50 a week; £103 a month from Standard Life, savings of £12,000 and my War Pension of £37 a week. Can we get help with our council tax of £940 a year?

A Yes. A weekly rebate of £9.40 a week and more if your council ignores the War Pension. In October, you could claim an extra £6.65 a week Pension Credit.