For years we have cut back, and back again. My benefits will now be frozen, but there’s nothing left to sacrifice

• Brian takes part in Changing Realities, a collaboration between almost 200 parents and carers on a low income, researchers at the University of York and Child Poverty Action Group

The run-up to today’s announcement of disability benefit cuts has been upsetting, leaving me feeling there is a devastating fight for survival ahead. It seems likely that disabled people and those unable to work will be pushed even further into hardship.

I am a single father and get personal independence payments (Pip). I have mental health issues and was diagnosed with autism towards the end of the Covid pandemic. I also receive universal credit, getting the limited capability for work-related activity element, which, which, we now know, will be cut for new claimants and frozen for existing ones, like me. As inflation continues to rise, the freeze will mean that my income falls and I’m left struggling even harder to make ends meet. I already live on the edge of existence with the amount of money I have to survive on after paying unavoidable expenses. Every day is a new challenge – not knowing what food I can afford to buy, and which is also more expensive in the local shops I have to use because I can’t afford to travel to larger supermarkets.

Brian takes part in Changing Realities, a collaboration between almost 200 parents and carers on a low income, researchers at the University of York and Child Poverty Action Group