Q Having taken £25,000 on a Home Equity Release mortgage for house repairs and other expenses, I am left with capital of £7,540. My State pension is £85.78 a week and my private pension £146 a month. I am 79 and pay council tax of £34.28 a month. Am I due any further benefits?

A Paying council tax of £34.28 a month, you seem to be getting some Council Tax Benefit, but I cannot see how it has been worked out. From what you say, you appear to be due Pension Credit of about £10.88 a week and Council Tax Benefit that would reduce your bill to about £8.68 a month.

Q My wife and I are 63. I have Incapacity Benefit of £76.45 a week, one annuity pension of £42.38 a month and another of £51.04 a quarter. My wife brings home a wage of £125 a week and our savings are £3,500. Are we due any reduction on our council tax of £863.17 a year?

A Yes. £9 a week.

Q How are savings taken into account for housing and council tax benefits?

A If you are under 60, the first £3,000 of capital is ignored and an income of £1 a week is taken into account for every £250 over £3,000. If you are 60 or over, the first £6,000 is ignored and an income of £1 a week is taken into account for every £500 over £6,000. Benefit is not payable if capital is over £16,000, unless Guarantee Pension Credit is in payment.

Q My State Pension is £97.27 a week and my wife's is £49.45. I have a four-weekly pension of £371.96 and a monthly one of £49.82. Our council tax is £905.05 reduced to £616.79 after benefit. This seems rather a lot. We have no savings.

A Pensioner couples living by themselves do not have to pay council tax if their income is below £188.60 a week. They pay 20p a week for every £1 their income rises above that. With your weekly income being about £251.16, what you are paying works out about right.