A single mother's candid breakdown of her monthly Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) income has sparked a heated national debate after going viral on social media platform TikTok.
Breaking Down the £2,000 Monthly Income
The content creator, who is a single parent, receives a total of £2,000 each month from a combination of state support. She provided a detailed account of her four separate benefit streams in the now-viral video.
Her income is comprised of £1,455 from Universal Credit, £112 in Child Benefit, £150 from child maintenance, and a further £295 from Personal Independence Payment (PIP).
Where Does the Money Go? Essential Outgoings and Debts
After listing her income, the mum outlined her essential monthly expenditures, which leave her with £655 in disposable income.
Her major outgoings include:
- £421 for rent on her council house.
- £100 for gas and electricity.
- £200 for food and toiletries.
- £23 for council tax (with a discount applied).
- £25 for her water bill, also on a discounted scheme.
She also detailed ongoing debt repayments, including £20 for historic council tax debt and £5 for an old water bill debt. Furthermore, her budget includes subscriptions for Netflix (£6.99), Amazon Prime, and Apple Music, plus £27.99 for a home security monitoring service and £10 for a giffgaff SIM-only phone deal.
A Polarised Public Reaction
The video prompted a torrent of comments, revealing starkly divided opinions on the UK's benefit system. Many viewers expressed anger and a sense of injustice, comparing her situation to those in full-time employment.
One TikTok user commented: “Surely if you have that much left over each month, you do not need the amount you are getting. People are working full time and not able to save that much a month.”
Another remarked: “I get less than that as a manager.” A third response was more blunt: “This is just greedy. You pay £400 for rent yet get £2k???”
The debate expanded into a broader critique of the welfare state, with one person stating: “The benefit system is unjust and unfair. The whole system needs restructuring and money should be going to those most in need. The system is utterly broken.”
The viral story, shared on December 18th, 2025, has clearly struck a nerve, highlighting the intense public scrutiny surrounding benefit claims and the ongoing cost-of-living pressures faced by families across the country.
