Q My wife wants to work after her 60th birthday. What will happen to her State pension if she decides not to take it?

A When she eventually retires, she can choose either a lump sum with a normal rate pension, or a higher pension. The lump sum will be all her unclaimed pension plus interest at two per cent above the Bank of England rate. The higher pension will give her an extra 10.4 per cent for each year she has put off claiming.

Q I had to give up my job when we moved. My son, 18, has never had a job or signed on the dole. How do we stand for benefits?

A If you have been paying full-rate National Insurance during recent years, you should be able to claim contribution-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) of £56.20 a week. You can be refused this if you gave up your last job without just cause, but I doubt if that would apply to you. Your son can claim income-based JSA of £44.50 a week.

Q Since my friend gave up work to look after her 90-year-old mother, she has been receiving £45-a-week Carer's Allowance. What will happen to this when her State Pension of £68 becomes payable in December?

A She will lose it, because only the higher of the two is payable. She will still have underlying entitlement to it, which will give her more generous treatment if she claims Pension Credit and/or Council Tax Benefit. She should claim Pension Credit if her income is less than £135.25 a week and she might still be entitled to Council Tax Benefit if she has a higher income.

Q I receive Pension Credit of £73.23 a week for my partner, aged 56, and me. I also have Incapacity Benefit of £85.18 a week and private pension of £8.64 a week. What will happen when my Incapacity Benefit is shortly replaced by State Pension of £106.57 a week?

A In effect, nothing. Your Pension Credit will be reduced, leaving you with the same income overall. If your partner were your wife however, you would be due about £20-a-week Savings Credit.