Tracy lives with her partner and baby daughter. Her partner is a teaching assistant, whose hours have been cut, and Tracy has been in and out of low-paid work since leaving school. She has experienced long-term depression and is currently on Employment and Support Allowance. Tracy’s partner is only paid during term-time, but their social security payments are paid at the same rate throughout the year. This means that during school holidays the couple receive just £6 in social security payments, which is their total weekly income. Tracy and her daughter visited a food bank after being referred by a social worker. Tracey says, “You don’t manage on £6 per week. We’ve had to borrow off friends and family. Before my maternity pay, we used to have just half a meal a day.”