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

There are more than a million children across the country who are impacted by a “cruel” welfare policy which is trapping families in poverty.

The two-child limit on benefits has been a hot topic since Labour came to power, and campaigners are set to ramp up their calls for it to be scrapped ahead of the Autumn Statement, during which the chancellor will set out her plans for the country’s finances.

Here at the Big Issue, we’ve been telling the stories of families who are impacted by the two-child limit to put their voices at the heart of the conversation.

In this week’s newsletter, we meet Ellen – a newly single mother from North Yorkshire who fears for the impact of the two-child benefit cap on her three children as she “starts from scratch”.

We also get a unique insight into the two-child limit on benefits through a child’s eyes, after Save the Children gave kids impacted by the policy disposable cameras to capture moments of their everyday lives.

Also read to the end as we continue with our Summer Survival Guide – helping families navigate the costly summer holidays – with advice on how to get school uniforms for the new term on a tight budget.

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

Ellen's story: 'It's been a rollercoaster'

Ellen needed to leave her long-term relationship for her wellbeing and that of her three children – but she is now a single mother out of work and struggling to support them financially as government policy “punishes” families like hers.

The two-child benefit cap impacts around 440,000 low-income families across the UK. It means that Ellen, whose name has been changed to protect her identity, receives no extra universal credit for her youngest child, who is four.

“I’m struggling,” the 38-year-old mother from North Yorkshire says. “I don’t know what to do right now. I’ve come out of a long-term, unnecessary relationship. I wasted time. I haven’t got anywhere. I feel like I’m starting from scratch. It’s been a rollercoaster.

“When I was with the kids’ dad, I had a good lifestyle. The kids had a good lifestyle. But I had to make a choice. Do we want everything that comes with that lifestyle? I’ve chosen to leave and make a better life for myself.”

Read Ellen’s story.

The Big Issue is platforming the voices of families like Ellen’s impacted by the two-child limit, as pressure builds on the government to scrap the policy in the Autumn Statement.

Are you impacted by the two-child limit on benefits? We want to tell your story. Get in touch with me through isabella.mcrae@bigissue.com or share your story here.

In case you missed it

Scottish government ends free bus travel for asylum seekers: 'Disappointing and devastating'. Free bus travel boosted mental health and integration for asylum seekers, refugee organisations said. But the Scottish government has ended a £2m pilot. Read more.

DWP will end 'blame culture' over benefits, says Liz Kendall – but words must be 'backed up'. Charities warn that Kendall’s positive words will “ring hollow” if the government proceeds with Conservative plans to increase sanctions and make cuts. Get the story.

Majority of councils unable to help those in crisis after DWP's support fund ends next month. Stephen Timms, minister for social security, previously said the end of the household support fund could see 'crisis support disappear altogether in some areas'. Find out more.

Rents in UK are rising at highest rate in decades. Will they keep going up? With record rent rises becoming the norm, The Big Issue looks at whether renters face more surges as the cost of living crisis continues to hit households. Read about it.

Children in kinship care are being pushed to breaking point. Change can't come soon enough. One in 10 kinship carers said their household had run out of food within the previous two weeks and couldn’t afford to buy more. Get the story.

Use money from Brits' dormant bank accounts to rebuild riot-hit communities, government told. Lord Hastings has called on the government to use the Dormant Assets Scheme to give £240m to Black and Ethnically Minoritised social enterprises. Find out more.

Like what you're reading? Let people know by going to our sign-up article and sharing it on your social networks!

This is what life with the two-child benefit limit looks like through a child's eyes

Save the Children gave families affected by the two-child benefit cap disposable cameras for the children to capture moments in their everyday lives and share their world as they see it.

Here are a few snapshots. We’ve got more here.

How to get school uniforms on a budget in 2024

The new school year can come at a hefty cost, with kids having outgrown their old school uniforms and in need of fresh stationery and textbooks to keep up with their peers.

But there are options if you are looking for cheaper options for school uniforms, and some families can get a grant to help them pay for it.

Local authorities sometimes offer a school uniform grant to low-income families, but the support varies hugely depending on where you live.

Find out whether you are eligible for a school uniforms grant and where to buy cheap alternatives.