Q I am a 61 year old bachelor whose business has failed, leaving me with no income or savings. What, if anything, can I claim?

A Income Support, otherwise known as Minimum Income Guarantee, of £92.15 plus a full rebate on council tax and rent, if appropriate. Being over 60 you will not have to sign on at the Jobcentre to get it.

Q Our combined state pensions are £546.68 monthly, plus a works pension of £100.97 a month, Disability Living Allowance and my wife's earnings of £100 a month. Our savings are £6,000. Can we get a reduction on our council tax of £645.30 a year?

A Yes. £3.94 a week

Q You recently said a widow would not lose her retirement pension on her late husband's National Insurance if she remarries. Why then did my wife lose her late husband's pension from the Forestry Commission when she married me?

A The rule I explained applies to state retirement pensions. Company pensions may have different rules so check with the pension provider.

Q My husband is transferring from Incapacity Benefit to Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA). He also has Reduced Earnings Allowance of £45.92 a week, and Disability Living Allowance for mobility. I earn £64 a week and get Invalid Care Allowance for caring for our handicapped son aged 22. Will we keep our benefits and what will be the council tax situation?

A These benefits will continue while he gets Contribution- based JSA. You will only get about £1 a week off your council tax but when JSA finishes after six months you will get a near full rebate.

Q My wife, who is just 60, has been told she cannot have a retirement pension even though she has paid full National Insurance (NI) for nine years. What was the point of paying?

A You normally need to have paid NI for ten years to get the minimum 25 per cent State Pension. Her NI would have qualified her for benefits during sickness and unemployment had she needed them during her working life.