Q I nearly had a fit when I got my council tax bill for £1,038.13. I have £387 four-weekly State pension and £291 a month teacher's pension. I have £4,000 saved and my son, who lives here, gives me £200 a month. Can I get any help?

A Yes, but it depends upon your son's gross income. Your weekly council tax benefit could be anything from 70p to £5.35.

Q My wife and I have a weekly income of £196 from State and works pensions, plus savings of £7,000. Can we get a reduction in our council tax of £1.038?

A Yes. At least £10 a week.

Q Our monthly income from State and works pensions is £603.65. Can we get help with our council tax of £95 a month?

A Your weekly income appears to be around the £155.80 level, at which a couple pays no council tax at all. Unless you have considerable savings you should get a substantial reduction.

Q My mother has to pay her own nursing home fees because her savings are over the £19,500 limit. How do I go about finding out if she is eligible for the nursing care allowance?

A Ask the nursing home to arrange for an NHS nurse to make an assessment of your mother's nursing needs. £40, £75 or £120 a week as appropriate will be paid direct to the home, depending on the support she needs.

Q I am 72 and my pensions before last month came to £98.15 a week, of which 83p was Income Support. Will I get the £8 Pension Credit in October that you mentioned the other week?

A £8 was the figure for that particular reader but what people get will vary according to how their income is made up. You, for example, will get an extra £13.

Q My income consists solely of my retirement pension of £102.38 which is just too high for me to get Income Support. Will I fair any better under Pension Credit?

A Yes. You will get about £14 a week