It really is ridiculous what we have to do just to keep getting the pittance we're afforded in order to not starve. I empathize so much with you and your partner.

I've faced similar shit a number of times over the last few years and it is undeniably worsening, both in terms of how much is required of a person to qualify for help as well as how badly you are treated for needing that help. At this point I completely rely on food stamps (ebt) to survive. (This part is kind of tangential, but when I've mentioned that the benefits I get are not really enough money to feed a person for the whole month they say "well, it's only meant to help supplement your regular income, not pay for all your food!" as if I was a fool for thinking I'd have my food actually covered.)

They just recently increased the amount of hoop jumping you have to do with even more means testing, which was alreadya degrading and humiliating process to begin with, to now require you present them with a doctor's written explanation for why you aren't working enough to pay for your own food. And not just one time when first applying, but for everyone already on benefits and every time you have to renew which is every 6 months. Didn't have to do the doctor approval thing in the past, you just had to prove your income was low enough that you couldn't afford food. So I had to contact the health clinic I go to and get a doctor appointment which are usually a good month or two out, but I was fortunate enough to get a phone appointment that week and the doctor was like "I can't assess your situation or health unless I see you in person," to which I responded that would mean I'd be denied my food benefits and not be able to eat. So they acted like they were doing me this huge favor that could jeopardize their license just by writing down what a past doctor had already diagnosed me with. But at least my benefits were renewed... until the next reassessment in a couple months.

They really do everything they can to make it a Catch 22 for people who need help, exactly like you said, you simply can't win.