Q With benefits my rent is reduced to £26.25 a week and my council tax to £26 a month. I have Disability Living Allowance (DLA) of £215.90 a month, Incapacity Benefit of £80.45 a week, a monthly works pension of £114.27 and £2,500 in savings. As two of my benefits are not means-tested and my savings are below the level where they count, why do I not get more help?

A Your DLA and savings are ignored but your other income (means-tested or not) puts you £30 above the level where you would get full rebates. Therefore, you must pay 20 per cent of this £30, as your share of council tax and 65 per cent of it towards your rent.

Q My wife died suddenly aged 64, just eight days before my 65th birthday. Do I qualify for a bereavement payment?

A Yes. You were under pension age at the time, so provided your late wife had paid a nominal amount of National Insurance, you are due £2,000.

Q Our state pensions total £162.77 and I have a works pension of £92.28 a month. We have savings of £7,500. Can we get a reduction on our council tax of £89 a month?

A Yes. About £8.88 a week.

Q I am in my early seventies with a widow's pension of £107 a week and my late husband's occupational pension of £272 a month. What savings can I have and still qualify for a council tax reduction?

A Regardless of your savings, your income is above the level where you could qualify for anything.

Q Income Support brings our joint pensions up to £149.80 a week. Could my husband get Attendance Allowance (AA)?

A AA does depend upon the needs arising out of disability, not on income. He should claim if he needs a lot of personal care by ringing the Benefit inquiry line on 0800 882 200.

Q Can I get benefit as an unemployed person if I take early retirement at 57?

A You may be eligible for contribution-based Jobseeker's Allowance if you are compulsorily early retired or you take voluntary redundancy, but NOT if you take voluntary early retirement. Benefit will be reduced if your works pension is more than £50 a week.