Victoria is a care assistant. The village where she lives has no gas supply, so she and her family rely on storage heaters. She is on a prepay meter, which is the most expensive way to pay for electricity, but she can’t afford to pay through direct debit. If she cuts back on heat, the house gets damp. Victoria says, “We do literally sit here with duvets wrapped around us.” Bedroom tax has reduced the family income by £60 per month. She and her husband have gone without food so that they can put a meal on the table for her teenage daughter. Recently, they have relied on a food parcel provided by the housing association. Victoria dreads the prospect of a cold winter, saying, “I cannot begin to think of what we will do. There is nothing else left to give.”