Good morning. Welcome back to Survival Guide. 

It’s Isabella here. For more than two years, I’ve been covering the impact of the cost of living crisis for the Big Issue, but there are still new and concerning ways it is seeping into society and harming lives.

Recent research shows that the crisis has led to an unprecedented decline in adoption rates. Prospective parents are justifiably conscious about not having enough money to support children, but that means that increasing numbers of children are waiting for a forever home.

Adoption England is running a campaign to encourage more people to take that first step in considering adoption – and to coincide with this, I spoke to Miles Asteri (who you might recognise from The Traitors) about his journey to adopting children with his husband. 

He had fears when beginning the adoption process, but he says that adopting his children is the best decision he ever made. We’ll meet Miles in this newsletter shortly. 

I’ve also got updates for you about the winter fuel payment, following the announcement from chancellor Rachel Reeves this week that it is going to be targeted to the poorest pensioners. 

It is so important that if you are eligible that you don’t miss out, so we have an explainer if you read to the end about how to make sure you get the money you are owed this winter.

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

Miles' story: 'I was really worried I didn't have the house or the income'

Miles Asteri watched his eldest daughter with hawk eyes when he brought her home for the first time, excited and worried about his new responsibility for this little person. His girls, who are almost five and two, are adopted – but he had a fierce parental protectiveness from the start.

“It was the best decision of my life,” the 37-year-old says. “People say adoption is a nice thing to do, and it is, but I did it for me too. I feel like they were always meant to be mine. ‘Family’ is such a broad word these days, and adopting is the best thing both me and my husband have ever done.”

For the first time in years, there are more children in England in need of adoption than adults registered to adopt. It takes more than 18 months for nearly half of children before they are adopted, as the cost of living crisis has led to an unprecedented decline in adoption rates.

Nine in 10 prospective adopters said the cost of living crisis is having an impact on their decision to adopt.

Miles can empathise. A veterinary nurse now known for starring on the second season of The Traitors, he says: “I was really worried I didn’t have the house or income before starting this journey. I had to be reassured that I had more to give than I realised.

“I had a bit of a colourful childhood and I worried that would go against me, but speaking to these professionals, they told me I’d be skilled and equipped for these children’s backgrounds because I’ve faced similar things in my own childhood.”

Read Miles’ story and how the cost of living crisis is impacting adoption.

In case you missed it

Rachel Reeves warns of 'difficult decisions' on benefits and welfare spending. The chancellor has been told that the government must consider the 'disproportionate impact’ measures will have on vulnerable people. Get the story.

Winter fuel payments restricted to pensioners on certain benefits. The chancellor has announced the winter fuel payment will no longer be paid to all pensioners of a certain age. Read more.

'It doesn't have to be this way': More than 200,000 kids needed help from baby banks last year. The newly-formed Baby Bank Alliance brings together baby banks across the country and calls on the government to reduce child poverty in the UK. Find out more.

Employees working through sickness is costing UK businesses billions, think tank says. People who are Black or Asian are twice as likely to work through being sick compared to those who are white British. Read the story.

Fossil fuel giant BP accused of 'profiting off misery' after announcing staggering earnings. BP has posted staggering profits of £2.2bn for the second quarter of this year, while millions of people struggle with the cost of living. Here’s more.

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Pensioners, here's how to get pension credit so you're entitled to the winter fuel payment

This is urgent. The chancellor Rachel Reeves has announced that the winter fuel payment will be restricted to people on pension credit and other means-tested benefits from this year.

But you could be eligible and not realise it. There are around 880,000 pensioners who are entitled to pension credit but aren’t currently claiming it and that means they’re missing out on money which could be used to help them cover the extortionate cost of living.

It’s a separate benefit from your state pension, and you can get it even if you have savings, your own home or another income.

We explain who is eligible for pension credit and how much you might be owed here.