Q You recently told a 73-year- old single lady that she should be paying no more than £287 a year council tax. I am in a similar situation, with a pension of £160 a week. What should I be paying after deduction of council tax? I currently pay £857.15 a year.

A You are due Council Tax Benefit of about £9.67 a week, reducing your annual liability to £354 - rather more than the lady you mention, whose income was about £6.50 a week less than yours.

Q I am a widow, aged 79, living alone, with £136.56-a-week State Pension and Low Rate Attendance Allowance and a works pension of £59.72 a month. I have savings of £12,000. I paid £600 council tax last year. Can I claim any benefits, including help with dental treatment and glasses?

A You are entitled to Pension Credit and Council Tax Benefit. How much you are due depends on whether anyone gets Carer's Allowance for looking after you. If no one does, your Pension Credit - including Guarantee Credit - should be about £50 a week. If you are due Guarantee Credit, that will mean you do not have to pay Council Tax, will receive free NHS dental treatment and maximum help towards the cost of glasses. Even if you have a carer receiving Carer's Allowance, you will still be due Savings Credit of about £11.53 a week and your council tax could be reduced to about £77 a year. However, you would be expected to pay most or all of the costs of dental treatment and glasses.

Q We get Council Tax Benefit but not Pension Credit. Could we get help with teeth and glasses?

A It depends on how much your income is above the level for Guarantee Pension Credit. Savings also count and those aged 60 and over will not qualify if they have more than £12,250. You can claim on form HC1 by calling 0845 850 1166.