Q I draw a Post Office pension of £130 each week, plus my late husband's NCB pension of £346 a month. My savings are £6,000. I hate form-filling and wonder if it is worthwhile my claiming help with my council tax of £58 a month.

A Not worthwhile, I am afraid. You could only get help if your weekly income was under £172, and yours is £209.

Q We have four sons living at home, but only one is in work. The others receive Income Support, Jobseeker's Allowance and Incapacity Benefit. My wife's State Pension is £46.35 and mine is £84.56, and I also have a works pension of £283.18 a month. I have been granted £2.97 a week Pension Credit but can I get a reduction on my rent and council tax?

A Your working son will be expected to contribute to rent and council tax. How much will depend upon what he earns. Even your non-working sons will be expected to contribute £7.40 a week towards the rent. I would estimate that it would be worth claiming Council Tax Benefit if you are paying more than £650 a year and claim Housing Benefit if your basic rent is more than £61.

Q I am 59, with £414.20 a month in Severe Disablement Allowance, Disability Living Allowance (DLA) low rate for care and high rate for mobility. My husband is 58 and gets £326.60 a month Incapacity Benefit and DLA high rate for mobility. We get rent and council tax rebates but can we get Income Support (IS)?

A Not yet. With DLA ignored, your weekly income for IS purposes is £130.10. You could only get IS if your income was under £119. At 60, you could be eligible for Pension Credit (IS for older people) which currently brings a couple's weekly income up to £155.80.

Q Our weekly income from state and works pensions is £241.71 and we have savings of £16,000. Are we eligible for a reduction to our council tax of £897.29?

A Your income is too high. If council tax goes up significantly in April, you should claim then, provided your savings are no more than £16,000.