I’m a mum-of-3 & get £3.5k Universal Credit a month – I spend £250 for nights out with pals and still get my nails done
A MOTHER-OF-THREE has revealed that she gets paid £3,500 a month in various benefits.
Janet Jones, a mum from Harrow, is currently pregnant with her fourth child and thanks to Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Disability and Child Benefits, she is able to go to the pub with her friends every week.
The woman, who is living in London, has taken to social media to share a close-up look at her monthly costs and how she “budgets”.
Janet, who described herself as a “mother wanting the best for her kids”, claimed: “I’m only getting £3.5k this month in Universal Credit as I have three kids and one on the way.”
She then revealed that she spends £1,450 on rent and this month had to fork out £400 to pay someone back after she was lent money last month “just to survive.”
Additionally, Janet’s monthly costs also include £250 for a weekly night out with her friends, which she described as a “tradition” for her.
She also spends £45 every four weeks on her nails, as she wrote: “Manicure is very important to me as a benefits girlie.”
When it comes to her food shopping, Janet goes to Lidl to get her groceries and spends £170 on a huge haul.
But that’s not all, as Janet also used her money on a new pet, as she claimed: “Spent £600 for a Frenchie last week – honestly, I love dogs more than kids tbh.”
Alongside sad and crying emojis, Janet claimed: “Now I have £300 left and four weeks until I get paid again.”
As a result, the pregnant woman shared her goal – to “try and survive” without borrowing money.
Following this, she expressed: “I’ll be posting daily updates on how I get by on such a low income.”
Social media users fume
The TikTok clip, which was posted under the username @janetjones666, has clearly left many open-mouthed, as it has quickly amassed 151,000 views in just 24 hours.
Am I entitled to Universal Credit?
According to the GOV website, if you’re on a low income or need help with your living costs, then you could be entitled to Universal Credit.
To claim, you must live in the UK, be aged 18 or over (with some exceptions if you’re 15 to 17), be under State Pension age, and have £16,000 or less in money, savings and investments.
Other circumstances are if you are out of work, or unable to work, for example because of a health condition.
But social media users were left gobsmacked by Janet’s claims and many were fuming at how much she earns through benefits.
One person said: “Sorry but f**k off, I work 40 hours a week, earn less than you get on benefits and don’t have £200 for nights out!!!!!! You are the reason benefits need to be looked at, seriously you are abusing the system.”
Only?! Ungrateful…
TikTok user
Another added: “I work 50 hours a week you earn more than me, get a grip.”
A third commented: “You’re what’s wrong with this country.”
Meanwhile, someone else fumed: “Only?! Ungrateful…”
At the same time, another user snapped: “Get a job.”
Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme – Sun Club
How much is child benefit worth?
THERE are two child benefit rates, one for the eldest child and another for younger children.
- You get £21.15 per week for your eldest or only child (£1099.80 a year)
- You get £14 for each of your other children (£728 per year, per child)
- You get the money for each child under 16 (or under 20 if they stay in approved education or training)
- If families split up, how much you’ll get for each child depends on how you claim.
- If you have 2 children and one stays with you and the other stays with your ex-partner, you’ll both get £21.15 a week for each child.
- If one parent claims for all the children, you get £21.15 for the eldest and £14 for each younger child.
- Only one household can claim for each child