Good morning. Welcome back to Survival Guide. I’m Isabella, social justice reporter at The Big Issue.

This week we meet Penny Davis, a single mum who was falsely accused of owing the government a horrendous £12,000. It caused six months of anxiety before she received a letter saying she was actually owed money instead.

It is stories like this which remind us just how much can go wrong within the benefits system. There are echoes of the Post Office scandal, another example of a powerful public body accusing innocent people of owing huge amounts of money.

And in this case, it is some of the most vulnerable people in the country who are impacted.

The Big Issue reports extensively on injustices within society, but we also try to do everything we can to help people. And that’s why we are launching a recipe collection with cheap and delicious recipes.

To kick us off, one of Britain’s favourite chefs Jamie Oliver has shared a couple of dishes which will be perfect for a family meal. Read on for more…

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

Penny's story: 'I was absolutely devastated'

A single mother was left “devastated” after being falsely accused of owing the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) more than £12,000.

Penny Davis was told she had been paid too much in universal credit and had to return that money to the DWP or it would be deducted from her wages.

In reality, the DWP actually owed her money – she had missed out on nearly £2,000 in universal credit and even more in cost of living payments.

Six months after Davis made an appeal, the DWP admitted its mistakes and the debt was written off. But she is yet to receive the money she is owed.

“I’m absolutely devastated because it changed everything for me,” Davis said. “Getting that letter and thinking that I’d have to pay that back made me very fearful of claiming again.”

Read Penny’s story here. 

We followed up by speaking to other single mums who have also been accused of owing thousands of pounds because of errors made by the DWP. But unlike in Penny’s case, overpayments were made and they are having money deducted from their benefits.

They have “nothing left to live on”. Read their stories here.

If you have been accused of benefit overpayments, you might be able to challenge it. Citizens Advice has advice here. A benefits advisor or debt advisor may also be able to help.You can find local, independent advice agencies through Advice Local.

Gingerbread provides advice and practical support for single parents, including advice on benefits and tax credits.You can call their free helpline on 0808 802 0925.

In case you missed it

‘An urgent wake-up call’: Half of disabled people are struggling to pay their energy bills. The cost of living crisis is continuing to hit marginalised people, including disabled people and those from ethnic minority groups, the hardest. Get the story.

21 million Brits are struggling to pay bills: ‘People will go cold, hungry and lose their homes’. People are increasingly turning to borrowing to pay their bills as the cost of living crisis continues to impact households. Read about it.

‘The most vile place I’ve ever seen’: Families stuck in ‘uninhabitable’ temporary housing. A group of “hidden homeless” tenants living in “uninhabitable” temporary housing have written to Croydon Council to demand better living conditions. Here’s the story.

Sending rough sleepers to prison comes at a huge cost. Here’s how that cash could help instead. “Nuisance” rough sleepers could be imprisoned for one month under new Tory plans. But there are cheaper ways to help than locking people up. Here are some ideas.

Scandal after scandal plunges UK to lowest-ever position in corruption index: ‘The wrong direction’. Britain has dropped nine places in just two years in the corruption index. Read about it.

Insulating Britain’s draughty homes would save billions on bills – but UK government is failing. Government schemes have installed just 16% of the insulation measures needed to meet UK climate commitments, researchers have warned. Get the story.

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Jamie Oliver’s cheap and cheerful dishes launch The Big Issue Recipe Collection

At The Big Issue we like to find opportunities to make things better, so we want to build a useful recipe collection of delicious meals at pocket-friendly prices.

And we want everybody involved: The Big Issue Recipe Collection is to be drawn from our vendors, our readers and you.

Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver has launched the collection this week, providing a couple of recipes (with more to follow) which you can cook without breaking the bank. 

“With financial pressures as high as ever, knowing how to cook has never been more relevant. I’ve created these to help your money go further,” Oliver said. “Whether it’s making the most of your oven or freezer, or using store-cupboard ingredients, these flavour-packed favourites are nutritious and delicious.”

Find out how to cook Jamie Oliver’s No-Oven Pizza and Jamie Oliver’s No-Churn Ice Cream.

Saving those coins: How to get benefits in February

Research shows £19billion in benefits is going unclaimed – because people don’t know about them, because they have trouble accessing them and because of stigma.

The Big Issue has reported about how benefits and cost of living payments fail to stretch far enough amid the ongoing crisis. But any kind of financial support can be a lifeline for people who need help, particularly as prices are still rising.

You could be entitled to benefits and tax credits if you are working or unemployed, sick or disabled, a parent, a young person, an older person or a veteran. You can use the charity Turn2Us’ benefits calculator to find out what benefits you are entitled to claim. 

And find out more about the benefits you could be entitled to in February 2024.