Two people explain the worries the row over benefit rises is having on their lives.
By Eleanor Lawrie & Michael BuchananWhile the cost of living is soaring, millions of people are coping with the uncertainty of whether their benefits will rise with inflation.
The cost of living is increasing at nearly its fastest rate in 40 years, with prices in August almost 10% higher than a year earlier. "With electric bills going up I don't know how long I can actually do dialysis at home. I just live day by day at the moment, I don't see a future," he says. The government has not confirmed whether it will stand by its manifesto commitment to raise all benefits in line with September's inflation figure, which is due to be published on 19 October.But other benefits, such as universal credit, are not protected in this way and have not gone up at the same rate as inflation for nine out of the past 12 years.
She receives £69.70 a week in carer's allowance - which will go up in line with inflation - and around £500 in universal credit. Her rent is £450 a month, leaving her about £100 a week for food and bills. "You try to keep to a healthy diet but it's just impossible to do. Fruit prices have gone up - everything has, and you just feel as if your world is shrinking in on you. And you daren't go out every day because you end up spending money that you haven't got to spend," she says.She is urging the government to raise benefits by "as much as they possibly can" as "people just can't survive on what they've got".