Inflation is at a new 40-year high of 9.4% and the cost of groceries is expected to rise at the fastest pace in 14 years next month, which will restrict family budgets in the UK. The problem is especially serious for people with disabilities or chronic illness, who depend on benefits that are not at the pace of rising cost of living and a welfare system that struggles to meet demand. Three readers share their stories about the pressures they face now.
“We used to deal with it, but things have changed massively”
Nichola, 42, a mother of five from Stoke-on-Trent, broke her back and pelvis when she was in the army when she was a young adult, leaving her with disabilities that changed her. life and that he cannot work. He says rising prices have pushed his family to the financial limit.
We were quoted £ 5,000 for window insulation, but it could also have been a million; we just don’t have Nicholas
“Our gas and electricity bill will rise to almost £ 7,000 in October if the increase is“ only ”42% as predicted, which could be bigger.
“We were quoted £ 5,000 for window insulation, but it could have been a million too; we just don’t have it. My husband is self-employed. We have tax credits, but only for three of our five children. Our little one is autistic.
“I spend £ 500 a month on petrol just taking the kids to school, which is four miles away. We can’t afford to live in a nice neighborhood near the schools. I leave home as little as possible .
“The food has become exorbitant. They say the inflation rate is 9.1% [the figure has since risen to 9.4%] but I am seeing price increases of 25-50% on the things we buy. Four liters of milk used to be £ 1. Yesterday it went up to £ 1.60.
Nichola spends £ 500 a month on petrol just to take her children to school. Photography: Guardian Community
“Despite our struggles, we don’t get free school meals; we are still not poor enough. I don’t know how I’m going to pay for my school uniforms. “
“Soon I won’t be able to pay for my disabled child’s diet anymore”
Kate, 52, a single mother of two Devon children, had to quit her job to care for her young daughter, who has an acquired brain injury after a brain tumor.
The family depends on universal credit and a caregiver benefit, and now struggles to meet needs.
“The cost of living crisis is having an impact on my ability to care for my disabled daughter,” Kate said. “She has several health problems, including epilepsy. After trying many different medications that didn’t work, her consultant prescribed her a ketogenic diet, according to Nice. [National Institute for Health and Care Excellence] guidelines.
“It is a very specialized diet, very rich in fats and very low in carbohydrates. Thanks to diet, their quality of life has greatly improved. But it is becoming increasingly difficult to afford to provide it.
“There are some prescription supplements available, but most of the food comes out of the shelf and many items I can only find online as we live in rural areas.
Kate’s electricity costs are high. Photography: Simon Dack / Alamy
“Low-carb, low-sugar jams, low-carb pasta, almond flour and large amounts of oil, butter, cream, cheese. These ingredients are considerably more expensive than the high-carbohydrate foods used to supplement a normal diet, such as pasta, rice, beans or potatoes. “
In January, Kate calculated that her daughter’s diet would cost her £ 50 a week, more than she spends on herself and her other son. “I haven’t had the strength to recalculate this recently, but I know things have gotten better. A liter of olive oil at Tesco used to be £ 3; they are now £ 4.30. Then there are the hidden costs of providing such a specialized diet. “
Because you have to cook two different meals twice a day, your electricity costs are high. “We don’t have the storage space to buy in bulk or cook in batches. I slipped a second fridge-freezer into the living room, but that makes it harder for me to run. Our electricity costs usually exceed £ 6 a day, without the heating on. The light bill is now double what it was.
“We also have hospital appointments where we have to drive, a 35-mile round trip. In the last two weeks we’ve had three. I can no longer afford to drive my other daughter to meet friends.
“I will do everything in my power to offer this diet, but I am terrified of not being able to afford it.”
“I skip meals so my parents can take the right portions”
Michael *, 35, of South Wales, has a disability and enjoys universal credit and employment and support, and struggles to pay for rising alimony and family bills.
He lives in a town hall apartment with his elderly parents, who have various health problems.
We are struggling a lot now, even with the three of us sharing our money, Michael
“We have an oxygen machine, which is expensive to operate,” he said. “We get some reimbursement for that, but we also have a stairlift and we don’t get help with gas, even though my parents are very vulnerable, especially my mother, who has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and autoimmune diseases and needs warming to prevent infections. .
“Now we are struggling a lot, even with the three of us sharing our money. Prices are going through the ceiling.
“We have no savings and, without my parents knowing, I miss meals so they can eat the right portions and the purchases take a little longer to save money and thus be able to pay the energy bills.
“Most of the conversations are about money and price hikes. We are reducing almost everything, restricting the use of showers and doing laundry once a week.
“But if prices go up again in October, we’ll be at the limit.”
* The name has been changed.