CHRISTMAS IS all about giving, but not for single mum Debbie Hughes, who this year has been left heartbroken by the fact that she couldn't afford to buy her children Thomas, 9, and Olivia, 13, a single present.

With mum Debbie £2,000 in debt and struggling to get by on Universal Credit the children's small pile of gifts were kindly donated by a local charity and their school.

While many children across the country were working their way through mountains of presents this morning, Thomas and Olivia were thrilled to unwrap a craft set, crayons and a game of Guess Who? from local charity Coventry Mission.

"The kids were ecstatic, it was so nice of them," said Debbie, who has been forced to rely on food banks six times in the past year.

"I felt like a failure, knowing I can't get my children presents. The charities are amazing - I don't know what I have done without their kindness."

Debbie, who works unpredictable hours as a healthcare assistant in a local hospital, says Universal Credit has left the family so poor that her daughter's school had to buy her new shoes.

“My daughter had the sole of her shoe hanging off and she was threatened with detention because I can’t afford the shoes," she says. “I’ll fight her corner - why should she get punished when it’s not her fault but mine?"

'I was ready to top myself'
This is the second Christmas that Debbie and her kids have had to go without due to Universal Credit.

“Last Christmas I was ready to top myself, if it wasn’t for the children, I would have given up,” says Debbie, who spoke to The Sun Online as part of our Make Universal Credit Work Campaign.

"I felt like I was drowning, I’ve never been in so much financial hardship in my whole life, I’ve never experienced anything like it," she says.

Debbie had to reduce her hours due to ill health earlier this year, and is now desperate to get back to full-time work - but is worried how she’ll afford to pay her childcare upfront.

Under Universal Credit parents get 85 per cent of their child costs back - but they have to have the cash upfront to pay for it.

"I want to go back to work full time, more than anything,” says Debbie.

"But I know what will happen - they will say that I have to find a job just in school hours, an after school club, and they will want the money all up front. That will be a huge issue for me now.

"When I first started claiming UC they said they would pay my childcare, but they didn’t pay me back for six months."

'I need food banks to feed the kids'
It took Debbie six weeks to get her first Universal Credit payment - one week longer than the average.

In April she had to take out a debt relief order to pay back £14,000 of debt, but money is still very tight and she’s spiralling into debt once more.

She has been forced to sell a special necklace her mum gave her for just £30.

"Last week one of my friend's parents turned up with a lovely hamper for us - tea bags, sugar, rice, gravy and other bits and bobs.

"I burst into tears, it was so lovely. I can’t afford to live now."

Debbie's children keep her going.

"My daughter is so lovely, she said ‘mummy it doesn’t matter as long as we have you’," Debbie says.

"She’s such a beautiful child, she’s so considerate of what’s happening now.

"They are my life and I can’t provide for them.”

She had been studying to be a paramedic before she got ill earlier this year but now she just can’t afford it.

Debbie used to get £670 a month on tax credits but now the amount she gets on Universal Credit varies every month due to how much she earns.

Anything she earns over her work allowance is taxed by the UC taper rate at 63p in every pound - and the extra income is then taken off her benefits payment.

And it was the first UC payment back in 2017 that caused her to get into debt.

out of their subsequent payments.

“It’s important that claimants apply for benefits when eligible, rather than retrospectively.”