Q An 86-year-old friend lives on a reduced State pension of £54.93 a week and has savings of £13,000. Can she get help with her Council Tax of £44 a month?

A She currently qualifies for a rebate of £6.70 a week. Under the new savings rules from April she will pay nothing.

QMy husband gets Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for care and mobility and I get it for care. His State Pension, including an allowance for me is £115.59 a week and he gets Industrial Injuries of £43.72 a week. Our rent and Council Tax is £57 a week. Should we be paying all this?

ANo. Because DLA is ignored you should only be paying about half that in your circumstances.

QThe council wants me to send them copies of my bank statements every two months so they can work out the Council Tax Rebate. I think this is an intrusion. Can they do it?

AYes. As long as the evidence they want is "reasonably required." Tell me why they need it and I will advise you further.

QI am now on High Rate Attendance Allowance and no one lives with me or gets an allowance for looking after me. My pre-April State Pension is £100.65 and I receive £80 a month in respect of my late husband. The council says I can get a Council Tax reduction because the house is adapted for my disability but should my income not be taken account of?

AIt certainly should, which means you should not be paying Council Tax and, from April, you get Minimum Income Guarantee of £9 a week as well.

QWhy do women get their pensions at 60 but men have to wait to 65?

A Those who made up that rule are no longer with us to explain. However, from 2010 the pension age for women will gradually be raised and by 2020 it will be 65 for all