Q I am a widow with a Retirement pension of £93.96 a week and a monthly works pension of £21.45 a month. My bank account and ISA add up to £11,000. Can I get help with my Council Tax of £552 a year and my rent of £53.34 a week?

AEven with quite significant savings, people may still get big rebates. After rebates, your Council Tax should be reduced to £278 a year and your basic rent to £17.38 a week.

Q Our monthly income is my State Pension of £280, my private pension of £128 and my wife's State Pension of £180. Our savings are £2,000. Can we get any rebate on our Council Tax of £733 a year?

A Most certainly. You should hardly be paying anything.

QIs it true that this year's Winter Fuel Payment of £200 will be going down to £150 next winter?

A The latest from the DSS is that the amount of next winter's payments will be announced later in the year.

QMy State Pension is £104.09 a week and my company pension £77 a month. My savings are £6,400. Should I be paying all my Council Tax of £468 for the year?

A You could get a rebate of £144.

QMy weekly State Pension is £118.70 and my wife's is £43. She also earns £12.84 a week. My monthly works pension is £146.62 after tax. Can I get help with my Council Tax of £929.31 a year?

A Yes. A rebate of about £330 for the year.

Q My Council Tax has gone up to £830 and I am finding it harder to live on my weekly pension income of £129.57. My savings are under £3,000. Can I get help?

A You could get a rebate of £441. It would be the same even if your savings were under £6,000.

QI am 83 and live alone. My weekly pension is £79.68 and I have nothing else apart from £12,500 in savings. My Council Tax is just short of £600. Can I get a rebate?

AYes, a reduction of about £460