QI am 65 and worried because I have no life insurance. Is there any benefit that can help to pay for a funeral without bothering my family?

ANot really. The only such help offered by the benefit system goes to people on low incomes who have to arrange a funeral for their loved ones

Q Can people who were on Invalidity Benefit (IVB) continue to get Incapacity Benefit (IB) after pension age?

AIB replaced IVB on 13 April 1995. Only those on IVB who were already over pension age then could get IB for up to five years beyond age 65 (60 for women). For others IB stops at pension age.

QDoes being registered disabled mean you get the Winter Fuel Payment?

ANot unless you are 60 or over. Age is the sole criteria for claiming the Winter Fuel Payment.

QCan you get the Retirement Pension if you go to live in South Africa, USA or Australia?

AYes it is payable the world over but in certain countries, like Australia and South Africa, you would not get the annual increase.

Q I get my state pension next March but my wife will only be 57. Will I be able to claim anything for her as she has no income of her own?

AProvided she has no earnings or works/private pension of more than £52.20 a week you should be able to claim an extra £40.40.

QMy wife and I are 77 and 78 with only our state pensions of £115.73 a week and savings of £9,000. We pay Council Tax of £81 a month. Is this too much?

AYes. About £12.70 a week too much. Get claiming a rebate.

QWhat is the upper savings limit for Housing and Council Tax Benefit?

A £16,000. But the size of your other income could rule you out even if you had savings less than this.

QYou recently told a reader that they would not have to pay Council Tax when they reached 80. Does this apply to every one when they get to 8O?

ANo. The rules for the over 80s are more generous, but how much help they get depends on individual circumstances.