Good morning. Welcome back to Survival Guide. It’s Isabella McRae here, senior reporter at the Big Issue.

This week, we published my exclusive interview with John McDonnell – who was shadow chancellor for years under Jeremy Corbyn. I wanted to pick his brain about what he thinks of the Labour government so far, and it was revealing…

No surprises, McDonnell was a fan of Labour’s promise to restore trade union rights and renationalise the railways, but he spoke damningly about the government’s approach towards the benefits system.

Starmer and his ministers have refused to scrap the two-child limit on benefits and have slashed the winter fuel payment for millions of pensioners. They have also repeatedly said they want to get disability benefit claimants into work and reduce the welfare bill.

McDonnell fears that if the government imposes austerity measures – which Starmer says he will not do – he fears people will lose their lives.

The Big Issue has heard from hundreds of disabled and seriously ill people about their fears for the benefits system, and the devastating impact of having their benefits reduced or stopped. 

Later in this newsletter, we’ll hear from Angela Cater, who had a stroke and lost three stone after her disability benefits were stopped. Read on for all of this, as well as some places to get help if you are worried about your benefits…

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

John McDonnell fears 'people will lose their lives' if Labour cuts benefits in autumn budget

Former shadow chancellor John McDonnell is “terrified” the government will make “another wrong move” and cut benefits in the autumn budget.

Jeremy Corbyn’s right-hand man, who has had the Labour whip removed, warned “people will lose their lives” if austerity measures are introduced.

McDonnell said: “There’s been a lot of noise about tough choices and painful decisions, and I’m worried they’ll look again at some form of impact on welfare provision.”

Keir Starmer has promised there will be “no return to austerity”, but the government has already slashed the winter fuel payment and refused to drop the two-child limit on benefits.

It has pledged to tackle “worklessness” and “welfare fraud”, while considering changes to the disability benefits system proposed by the Tories which could see people refused support.

Read the full interview with John McDonnell here.

In case you missed it

UK's shock fall in inflation means benefits increase of 'just a few pounds' next year. September’s rate of inflation is typically used to set how much benefits are increased next financial year. Get the story.

Yes, Labour's workers' rights bill is an upgrade. But the UK still has a lot of catching up to do. The Employment Rights Bill marks a big shift for UK workers. But how much will change? University of Birmingham's Tony Dobbins explores. Read it here.

Nearly half of Londoners don't realise how bad child poverty actually is: 'Deeply concerning'. Half of high earning Londoners believe that the city is safe for children and young people, compared to just a quarter of those earning under £15,000. Find out more.

Benefits bill pushes government spending on housing to highest level since records began. The share of government spending on benefits has dramatically increased from £1bn in 1975/76 to £26.8bn in 2021/22. Read about it.

This benefits 'trap' is forcing homeless young people out of work, charities say. Youth homelessness campaigners are urging chancellor Rachel Reeves to change outdated housing benefit rules in this autumn's budget. Get the story.

Half of universal credit claimants don't know why DWP might stop their benefits. And just under a quarter of new universal credit claimants did not understand how to get the benefit, the government’s own analysis has found. Read more.

Most universal credit claimants are behind on bills or facing debt, DWP's own research finds. Universal credit already falls short of the money people need to survive, and debt is pushing them into further hardship. Find out more.

Hundreds of thousands of pensioners miss out DWP pension credit worth £1,900: 'Disappointing'. Up to 760,000 pensioner households who were entitled to receive pension credit did not claim the benefit between April 2022 and March 2023. Here’s the story.

Angela's story: 'I starved myself. I was a skeleton'

Angela Cater had a stroke days after the DWP stopped her disability benefits. She believed she had no choice but to “starve herself” and she lost three stone in nine months.

“The income I had was cut in three days, just before Christmas,” she said. “After receiving all these letters, I had a second stroke, which caused further damage.”

Angela sought the help of a benefits advisor at Citizens Advice. It went to tribunal, where the rejection was overturned and she was awarded the full rate of personal independence payment, but by that point it had been nine months since she had lost her benefits.

“During those nine months, I was left on what was left of my savings, and I was rapidly dwindling down. I fed my cat. I paid my mortgage and my bills, but I starved myself during that time. I went down to five and a half stone. I lost three stone in weight.

“My family and friends looked at me like I was a skeleton. I looked bloody awful.”

Angela is “frightened” about what the changes to disability benefits might look like under Labour, fearful about what might happen to her and others if she is at risk of losing her benefits again.

Read Angela’s full story here.

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Where to get help if you are worried about your benefits

Get help if you are struggling with your mental health. Call Samaritans for free on 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org or visit samaritans.org for useful resources and advice on coping. 

The Scope helpline can offer help and advice on disability benefits on 0808 800 3333 or helpline@scope.org.uk. For textphone, dial 18001 then 0808 800 3333. 

Use Advicelocal to find free, independent advice. Turn2Us advice finder can also help you find local organisations that give advice.

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. 

People who are struggling financially may be eligible for charitable grants. You can find out what grants might be available to you using Turn2Us’ grant search on the charity’s website.

There’s lots more cost of living help available to people who need it – we round it up here.