Good afternoon. Welcome back to Survival Guide. Isabella here.

It seems like we’ve been surviving the cost of living crisis for an incredibly long time. I started as the Big Issue’s cost of living reporter two years ago, when inflation was soaring. At the time, few predicted it would get as bad as it did.

It reached peaks of 11.1% in October 2022, a 41-year high, before subsequently falling. 

But inflation has trickled down at a snail’s pace. We only just had news this week that inflation fell to near-normal levels of 2.3% in April, close to the target figure of 2%.

It is a landmark and of course welcome news, but a huge amount of damage has been done. And importantly, prices are still rising. They’re just rising at a slightly lower rate.

Millions of people are struggling to afford the basics they need to live. They have nothing left to sacrifice. They are falling into debt. And the bulk of the government’s cost of living support has come to an end. How are they supposed to cope with rising prices?

Megan Davies from the Stop the Squeeze campaign said: “People across the UK are facing an ongoing cost of living crisis, which for many families is about to get worse rather than better.” 

Stop the Squeeze has found that nearly 90% of people reject claims that the cost of living crisis is over. 

Davies added: “This crisis isn’t about abstract statistics, it’s about people struggling to put food on the table, pay their rent, and heat their homes – it won’t be over until the millions of people who can’t do these things have greater economic security.”

Typical annual household energy bills in 2024 are 67% higher in real terms than July 2021, according to the Resolution Foundation. Meanwhile, food and non-alcoholic drink prices are 32% higher.

Those high prices of essential items impact the poorest most of all. That’s because it is the poorest households who spend the largest proportion of their income on the basics they need to survive, like food and eating.

So what can be done about it? The Big Issue has laid out a blueprint for change ahead of the general election, calling on the government to end poverty for good. Find out about it and how you can help later in this newsletter.

It’s also, as always, worth pointing out that there is help available and you might be eligible for more financial support than you realised. 

Head to the end for details on applying for benefits and other places you can get help as the cost of living crisis continues to be felt by millions across the country.

If you have a story to share, we want to listen. Get in touch at isabella.mcrae@bigissue.com or share your story here.

In case you missed it

Yes, inflation is falling – but nearly 90% of Brits say cost of living crisis is far from over. Rishi Sunak called the drop in inflation a 'major moment for our economy' but Brits reject claims that the cost of living crisis is over. Read about it.

Is the cost of living crisis over and will prices in the UK ever come down? What does the inflation rate mean for you? Will prices come down? We break down what you need to know about whether the cost of living crisis will ever end. Read it here.

DWP under investigation over treatment of ill and disabled people on benefits after claimant deaths. Britain’s human rights watchdog will investigate whether the DWP has 'broken the law' in its treatment of disabled benefits claimants. Get the latest.

DWP ramps up AI use to 'bring the future to the welfare system' and push people into work. Mel Stride, the work and pensions secretary, has announced more welfare reforms as part of a national drive to increase the number of British people in work. Read more.

Labour promises wave of new towns if elected. But will they make a dent in UK's housing crisis? Angela Rayner said the new towns plan will ‘turbocharge growth’ in a bid to deliver 1.5 million homes if the party wins at the general election. Get the story.

Post-Brexit border checks to cost £4.7bn. Here's how that money could be better spent. From Taylor Swift's carbon emissions to Gordon Brown's plan to fight poverty, we've got some uses for the bill for a new Brexit border scheme. Read about it.

Archbishop of Canterbury joins growing calls for end to 'cruel' and 'immoral' two-child benefit cap. Labour's Wes Streeting welcomed the calls from the Archbishop of Canterbury but said he could not commit to scrapping the policy. Find out more.

Deaf man awarded £50,000 after 'oppressive' and 'discriminatory' treatment by DWP. The tribunal found that the Jobcentre failed to provide the man with BSL interpreters, and an advisor attempted to block him from from increased employment support. Get the story.

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The Big Issue's blueprint for change shows how the government can end poverty for good

The Big Issue is calling on Britain’s next leader to end poverty for good.

The demand was made in an open letter to Rishi Sunak, Keir Starmer and other political leaders, laying out a blueprint for change for the next government to implement within its first year of office in order to dismantle poverty.

“The time has gone for a light-touch approach from any incoming government. Clear and real change is essential. Failure to act now will be catastrophic,” said Big Issue founder Lord John Bird.

“Our message to the next government is simple – if the electorate put their trust in you, do not pass up this chance to end poverty for good.”

Proposals include an ‘essentials guarantee’ so that universal credit is enough for people to afford the basics, an end to no-fault evictions, local housing allowance to remain unfrozen, a national target to end street homelessness by 2030, universal free school meals and accelerated spending on mental health care. 

Read more and sign the petition here.

Saving those coins: Could you get extra benefits or financial support?

There is help if you are struggling to afford the cost of living. 

Millions of people across the UK are not claiming all the financial support they are entitled to.

You can use a benefits calculator – including from Turn2Us, Policy in Practice and entitledto – to find out what you could get.

Citizens Advice offers information and services to help people and they can advise you as to what financial support is available from the government to help you. You can also find local advice services here.

You can find your local food bank through the Trussell Trust’s website or the IFAN’s member’s map. You can also call the Trussell Trust’s free helplines and talk to a trained adviser. It’s 0808 208 2138 if you live in England or Wales, and 0800 915 4604 if you live in Northern Ireland. You should contact your local council if you live in Scotland.

The government’s Help for Households website explains what other support you could be eligible for. And we’ve got a round-up of all the cost of living help available to households here.