I used my child benefits to go on a shopping haul in Primark – trolls say it’s ‘wrong’ but mums deserve new things too
A MOTHER has revealed that she used her child benefits to go on a shopping spree in Primark – and it’s left people totally divided.
Olivia Poole, a mother from the UK, claimed that she used her own hard-earned money to stock up on bits for her kids, but soon realised that she needed some new clothes.
As a result, after receiving her child benefit payment, the content creator, who has 15,100 followers on TikTok, took herself to Primark to stock up her wardrobe.
Posting on social media, the mum-of-two who will be receiving £43.30 every month in child benefit, shared her clip with the caption “I really don’t understand the issue with spending child benefit on yourself if you spend money through the month on your children for the things child benefit is “for”.”
Child benefit is designed to help cover the cost of raising a family and you can claim the allowance for any child aged under 16.
It’s paid every four weeks and as of April 6, 2025, the weekly rate has increased from £25.60 to £26.05 for the eldest child and from £16.95 to £17.25 for each extra child.
If your child stays in approved education (such as doing A-levels or Scottish Highers), you can keep claiming until your child is 20.
If they leave approved education, for instance to go to university, you will stop receiving the money.
While anyone can claim the benefit, if you or your partner earn £60,000 or more, you have to start paying some of the money back.
Once either of you earns over £80,000 (individually) you have to pay all of it back.
Olivia explained: “I used my child benefit today to get myself some clothes and I don’t see there’s anything wrong with that.”
She then stressed: “Throughout the month, I use my money to buy the kids clothes, to buy the kids nappies, the kids’ wipes, everything that your child benefit is meant for.
“But when I did receive the child benefit today, I knew I needed some more clothes, so why shouldn’t I use it?”
As Olivia headed to Primark, she acknowledged: “I received it today and I wanted to spend it.”
In the short video, viewers saw the influencer look at the high-street chain’s linen trousers and £14 summer tops.
I did end up getting myself some clothes and yeah, I don’t see anything wrong
Olivia Poole
Not only this, but she also picked up a pair of grey tracksuit shorts, two packs of five pack thongs and a set of two crop tops for £5.
She then added: “I did end up getting myself some clothes and yeah, I don’t see anything wrong.”
Big divide
The TikTok clip, which was posted under the username @livcolettepoole, has clearly left many open-mouthed, as it has quickly amassed 58,600 views, 965 likes and 113 comments in just 24 hours.
But social media users were left totally divided by Olivia’s claims – whilst some thought Olivia had every right to ‘treat’ herself, others weren’t on the same page.
How to claim Child Benefit
Child benefit is worth up to £1,331 a year for your first or only child and up to £881 a year for additional children.
This works out at £102.40 every four weeks or £25.60 a week for your first child and £67.80 every 4 weeks or £16.95 a week for their siblings.
There is no limit on the number of children that can be claimed for.
Applying is straightforward and can be done in minutes at gov.uk or through the HMRC app.
Parents with a newborn baby should make a claim online as soon as possible and could then receive their first payment in as little as three days.
You can also backdate claims for up to three months.
Parents can make a claim and then choose to opt out of receiving Child Benefit payments can still receive National Insurance credits if one parent is not working.
National Insurance credits build up your entitlement to the state pension.
One person said: “Treat yourself girl! We spend on our kids everyday, sometimes you need to treat yourself!”
Another added: “As long as the kids have everything they need, the bills are paid and there’s food in the house there is NOTHING wrong with buying yourself stuff. Go you mama. Show us what you got!”
A third commented: “You need clothes too.”
It’s not for you that’s why it’s called child benefit!!!!!!!
TikTok user
However, at the same time, not everyone was as kind, as one user snapped: “No you are wrong. The child benefits are for the child not you.
“If you didn’t have the kids, you wouldn’t have the child benefits. What you should do is set up a bank account and put the money in there for them.”
A second chimed in and slammed: “It’s not for you that’s why it’s called child benefit!!!!!!!”
Whilst someone else simply penned: “On your kids, not you.”
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Child benefit
Everything to know about child benefit:
How much is child benefit and when does it stop?
How long does child benefit take to claim and is it means-tested?
What age do child benefits stop and can I claim for a third child?
Are child benefit payments going up and how much more will I get?