Q My council has refused to allow me any Council Tax benefit because I have refused to show them the bank statements they demanded. Can they do this?

A Yes. The council has the power to request any certificates, documents, information and evidence that they need as evidence of your income.

Q After six months on the sick I have been put on half pay. Is there any point claiming Incapacity Benefit as, due to low earnings, I have not been paying National Insurance (NI) for the past two years?

AIt is worth claiming. People on low earnings, between £75 and £89 a week during the

past tax year, will have been treated as paying NI even if they have not.

Q I hear that pensioners will get £139 pension Credit (PC) in October. What will I get? My weekly State Pension is £138.30 and my works pension is £428.74 a year. I also have savings of £13,000.

A You have not heard right. £139 a week is the point at which a single pensioner is deemed too well-off to qualify for PC. You will not get it as your weekly income is assessed at £160, savings of £13,000 being treated as income of £14 a week.

Q I am 89, living on a weekly State Pension of £79.87, works pension of £85.43 and four-weekly miner's widow's pension of £96.08. I have £4,000 savings. Will I get Pension Credit?

A Your income is £123.53 and your savings are ignored, so you will get about £6 a week.

Q I need a lot of attention following a stroke but since my wife died last year I have lost my main carer and have been left on my own at the age of 80. I get Attendance Allowance plus State Pension of £109 a week and a £6 a week works pension. Can I get further help?

A As long as no one gets Carer's Allowance for looking after you, you should get Income Support of £29 a week and a full Council Tax rebate.