QYou frequently refer to Minimum Income Guarantee. What precisely is it and could we qualify? Our income is £131.16 a week.

AMinimum Income Guarantee for couples ensures that, where at least one of the partners is 60 or over, they have at least £140.55 a week coming in. So if one of you is in this age group, you are falling short by £9.39 a week. The level for single people is £92.15.

QWe are worried because we have no life insurance. Is there such a thing as a death grant these days?

AThere is no longer a universal grant payable on death. Those who have to arrange a funeral but are on low incomes may get a funeral payment to help provide a simple funeral.

QI am facing redundancy and am being offered a company pension that I can either take now or when I am 65. If I take it, will it affect my benefit as an unemployed person?

AIf the pension is more than £50 a week, yes. Anything over £50 a week will be deducted from Contribution based Jobseeker's Allowance.

QAt 56 I have just been made redundant and may not work again. If I become sick in the future, can I claim Incapacity Benefit (IB)?

AYou will need to keep your National Insurance record up to date by signing at the Jobcentre and getting credits. Even then you would not be entitled to IB if you claim following a period of unemployment of three to four years, depending upon circumstances.

QMy aunt, aged 87, lives on a state pension of £73.70 a week and has savings of £13,500. Can she get help with her council tax of £491.83 a year and rent of £41.35 paid 47 weeks of the year?

APeople of your aunt's age often qualify for low income benefits because they do not have much pension on top of their basic. Your aunt is due a council tax rebate of £7.14 a week and her basic rent, after rebate, should be reduced to about £8.30