I’m a mum of two who gets a monthly £1.7k Universal Credit payday people hate me as they work 40 hour weeks for the same
A MOTHER entitled to Universal Credit has sparked backlash online for showing how much money she is handed each month.
Laurell Sims posted a video from her TikTok account @laurellamy breaking down the monthly £1,700 she is given by the government.
Viewers were left fuming over the “shocking” and “frustrating” payment – and labelled her “smug”.
Standing in front of a screenshot of her monthly credit letter, Laurell told viewers: “This is how much I get as a mum-of-two on Universal Credit.
“That’s £1,717, about £800 – £900 of that is my rent.”
Laurell explained that the money for her rent gets paid directly to her landlord, instead of going through her account.
She told viewers: “I’ve always had it like that because I wouldn’t trust [myself] having that money.”
Laurell then gets a set amount for being a parent to two children – her daughter Delara (6) and son Jayden (8).
On top of that, she’s dished out a further set amount for herself, “basically a standard allowance.”
Aware that her video was likely to ruffle some feathers, Laurell said: “Now, before anyone comes to me, this is what they decide that I’m entitled to.”
She also clarified that she is currently on a sanction for two months, meaning her payments have been deducted over this period.
In another video, she explained she had been handed the sanction for arriving late to a Universal Credit appointment.
Without the sanction, Laurell said she “doesn’t struggle as much” – she’s hoping it will be lifted as she has now appealed it, which would mean she can go back to receiving the full £1,717.
Viewers in the comments were shocked at how much she was being given.
One person wrote: “The system is a joke!”
The worst part is the little shame that people have for not contributing to society
TikTok user
Someone else said: “My partner gets that working 40 hours a week.”
To which Laurell replied: “Good for him.”
Another person said: “This is an absolute joke. People work hard and taxes are taken off for people not working and being smug…there should be support for families who work too”
Everything you need to know about Universal Credit
- What is Universal Credit? Everything you need to know including how to apply
- Universal Credit calculator: How much can I claim and how do I apply?
- Universal Credit login: How do I sign in to my online account?
- How much can I earn before Universal Credit is reduced and do I get a work allowance?
- What is a Universal Credit advance payment? How to apply and pay it back
- Are Universal Credit payments going up and how much more will I get?
- How to claim Universal Credit if you’re self-employed
- How many hours can I work on Universal Credit and will my payment be reduced?
- What is a Universal Credit budgeting advance and how much could I get?
- What is the Universal Credit housing element and how much of your rent does it pay?
Laurell wrote back: “Being smug? I was working only a year ago and my circumstances have changed. Try being a nicer human being.”
While another person benefiting from Universal Credit wrote: “I get £2760 a month for 2 kids, thanks taxpayers.”
And someone else chimed in: “They hear universal credit and go straight to abuse. I work and get universal credit as support for my baby. Sometimes people genuinely use it as a top up.”