Q As my wife is on Attendance Allowance, I took the advice you have given other readers and asked at Social Security about my claiming Carer's Allowance (CA). They said that, as my State pension was over £43.15, I did not qualify. What do you think?

A I think they only told you half the story. You would not get CA because of the overlapping benefit rule, but you do have underlying entitlement to it. This would give you more generous treatment when you claim other benefits, as in the next letter.

Q My husband's State Pension is £353.56 four-weekly and mine is £161.60. His private pension is £148.52 and our savings are under £1,000. I help him with bathing and dressing because of severe health problems. Our rent is £52.26 a week and council tax is £1,024.89 a year. What benefit help is available?

A Currently relief on rent and council tax of about £58 a week and Pension Credit of £16 come October. If your husband claims Attendance Allowance this will not reduce other benefits and you could get underlying entitlement to Carer's Allowance. Then you would get full rebates and Pension Credit of £36.

Q As a self-employed taxi driver, I pay National Insurance (NI) of £10 a month. I will soon be off work having major surgery. As my wife and I have savings of £22,000 will this rule me out for benefit?

A For means tested benefits, yes. But self-employed NI entitles you to Incapacity Benefit when off sick.

Q My wife and I are 63 and 66 and receive weekly State Pensions of £46.35 and £88.24. I also have a £240.32 a month work pension and £8,500 joint savings. Should we have a reduction on our £843.21 a year council tax?

A Yes. £7.40 a week.

Q I am over 60 and facing redundancy and you told me that Minimum Income Guarantee (MIG) was the right benefit for me. However, when I went to the JobCentre, emphasising my age, they did not mention MIG.

Only when I asked about it specifically did they tell me I should claim it at another office. It seems to me that if you don't ask the right question, they will not volunteer the information.

A Knowledge is power, so they say.