A 20-YEAR-OLD mother has revealed how she really spends her Universal Credit payments.
Skye Byrne, a young mum from the UK, claimed that not only has she treated herself to a holiday, but she even splashed the cash in Sainsbury’s on a huge homeware haul.
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And as well as stocking up her daughter’s wardrobe, she also indulged with a McDonald’s takeaway.
Posting on social media, the content creator who lives in a council house, revealed a typical day in her life.
She said: “What I spend in a day, UC Benefit Britain Edition.”
Skye kicked off her morning with a Universal Credit appointment and was quick to clap at trolls who have criticised her for booking a trip abroad.
Read more on Universal Credit
She said: “For everyone that said, ‘you shouldn’t be going on holiday when you’re on UC,’ well, I told my work coach and she cried, she actually cried because she knows how much I’ve been wanting so badly to take my daughter on a holiday and she was so happy and thrilled for us, so, yeah, suck on that, everyone.”
Following this, Skye then headed to her local supermarket and stocked up on homeware buys and clothes for her daughter.
She added: “I went into Sainsbury’s and picked up these little bits and bobs for the house – I got three pillows and a blanket.”
As well as this, Skye also nabbed some tea towels and place mats, bringing her interior purchases to a total cost of £48.
However, Skye then picked up two pairs of £3.50 leggings and a pair of £7 jeggings for her child.
Following this, she also nabbed a pair of beige trousers and a PAW Patrol bottle, but was lost for words when she went to the till and saw the total cost of her haul.
The benefits recipient shared: “Honestly, I almost had a heart attack when I saw the price – this all came to £88, I was stunned.”
But the money spending clearly didn’t stop there, as Skye ended her day with a takeaway.
So glad my taxes are being spent wisely
TikTok user
Although Skye didn’t splurge masses on her fast food as it cost her just £2.99.
“Then went into Maccas cause I was quite hungry, so I picked up a triple cheeseburger,” she concluded.
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.
Social media users react
Skye’s TikTok clip, which was posted under the username @skyebyrnex, has clearly left many open-mouthed, as it has quickly racked up 32,100 views.
But social media users were fuming by how Skye spent her money and many raced to the comments to express this.
One person said: “So glad my taxes are being spent wisely.”
I am allowed a nice home for my daughter to live in. I’m also allowed to take my daughter on holidays and enjoy her childhood
Skye Byrne
Another added: “How can you afford to shop in Sainsbury’s on UC? I’m lucky if I can afford Primark nowadays.”
A third commented: “Workshy and diet shy.”
To this, Skye responded and alongside a kiss emoji, cheekily wrote: “Don’t be jelly.”
How much Universal Credit can you get?
TRYING to work out how much Universal Credit you can get can be overwhelming.
There are so many different elements that can affect your claim and it makes the whole process even more complicated.
There are several free calculators that you can use to help you get an estimate, such as Gov.UK, Citizen’s Advice, MoneySavingExpert, StepChange and Turn2Us.
You will need:
- Details of all your income, such as existing benefits, tax credits, earnings from employment and your pensions,
- Details of your partner’s income if you’re married, in a civil partnership or living with someone as a couple. You will be assessed as a couple
- Information on any savings you have,
- How much you pay in council tax per year, and whether you get any discounts, reductions or exemptions,
- Details of your rent or mortgage payments,
- Employment and income information about anyone else living with you, such as grown-up children,
- Details about your carer’s allowance if you receive it.
You’ll need to make sure that the information provided is as accurate as possible to get the truest estimate.
At the same time, one user questioned: “Isn’t UC designed to help you survive when you aren’t working? Not for pillows? And apparently a holiday.”
In response, Skye shared: “1. I am allowed a nice home for my daughter to live in. 2. I’m also allowed to take my daughter on holidays and enjoy her childhood.”
Meanwhile, someone else asked: “How on earth do you afford to go on holiday?”
Setting the record straight, Skye wrote back and confirmed: “I save. I make sure I can do these things for my daughter.”
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