Q I have been a widow for 32 years and live on a State pension of £109.51 a week, rising to £114.11 in April. I pay no council tax and have £2,000 savings. Can I claim anything?

A If you are 65, yes. You would be eligible for Savings Credit of about £16 a week. You can claim by phoning the Pension Credit Helpline on 0800 991234. If you are between 60 and 64, the Government says you need £109.45 a week to live on - £114.05 from next month - so you just miss out.

Q My State Pension, payable from May, will be about £88 a week. I will also have an occupational pension of £620 a month. My wife is 58, does not work and has no income. Am I entitled to any extra pension?

A Yes. You can claim an Adult Dependency Increase on your State Pension for your wife of £50.50 a week.

Q My wife has had a letter from the Pensions Service telling her that she will have a basic State Pension of £50.50 a week from April 10. Would this be right? She has not worked for nearly 40 years.

A Even if she has never paid National Insurance, a married woman will receive a State Pension once both partners have reached pension age.

Q I receive Disability Living Allowance (DLA) at the middle rate for care and the high rate for mobility. My wife also has DLA, but at the high rate for mobility only. We each receive Incapacity Benefit totalling £206.90 a week. Should we be paying full rent of £51.42 a week and council tax of £894 a year?

A Your wife should claim underlying entitlement to Carer's Allowance that will give you more generous treatment when you claim council tax/housing benefit. You will get about £5 a week off the council tax, but a good deal more if either of you has reached 60.