Q I am a man aged 59, soon to give up work for health reasons to seek something part-time. Should I sign at the Jobcentre?

A I see little point in doing that. You could only get Jobseeker's Allowance if you were prepared to take a job of 40 hours a week. You have paid enough National Insurance for this tax year and, as you are coming up to 60, you will get future years' credits automatically. If you are too ill to work, perhaps you should be claiming Incapacity Benefit.

Q I have been off work for a year due to cancer that has left me with restricted mobility. I rely on Incapacity Benefit, a small works pension and help from my son, who lives with me and helps with the mortgage. Am I eligible for anything?

A Claim Disability Living Allowance (DLA), which is payable at several rates for people with mobility problems and/or care needs. Income Support may help with the mortgage. There is a waiting period before the mortgage is taken into account, but you may already have served all or part of it as you have been on the sick. If you get certain rates of DLA, your son will be ignored for the purposes of Income Support and Council Tax Benefit.

Q My husband, who is 62, receives fortnightly Incapacity Benefit of £152.90 and a personal pension of £51.09 a month. I am 56 and work between 28 and 40 hours a week. Can we claim any allowances?

A For Pension Credit, it is not the hours you work, but the money you earn that matters. In your case, your husband would only qualify if you earned less than £90 a week. You could qualify for some Council Tax/Housing Benefit with higher earnings, but this would depend upon how much the council took as your average wage.