Note: we are republishing this story, which originally made the news in May 2015.
Mandy Cowie, a British ‘welfare queen’, says she wants 50 grandchildren so she can continue raking in benefits from the government and become the biggest benefits family in Great Britain. The 49-year-old single mother has 10 children with five different men.
Cowie has lived on welfare for over three decades and is trying to convince her own children to follow a similar path. She currently takes over $34,000 in benefits every year. At least $3,000 of that has gone to covering much of her body with tattoos.
“Ten kids and full of tattoos, mate,” Cowie said of herself.
Mandy Cowie showing off her tattoos, Photo Credit: Daily Mail
“So what if I’m on the effing dole, mate. Don’t like it, eff off. I had my first one at 18 and my last one at 36, and I’ve told them I want 50 grandkids before I die.”
Cowie, who already has 16 grandchildren, will be featured on Britain’s Biggest Benefits Family. The television show profiles families that pride themselves on living on benefits.
Mandy Cowie posing with an unknown man, Photo Credit: Daily Mail
She also admitted to buying cigarettes for her 13-year-old daughter when she behaved well and letting her drink alcohol at home.
“People may be shocked that I’ve been on benefits for so long, but I don’t care,” Cowie said. “I can’t work because of the kids, and while the pregnancies weren’t planned, I love having a big family.
Mandy Cowie looking into the camera mid sentence, Photo Credit: Daily Mail
“I probably wouldn’t get a job that would pay as much as I get now anyway. People might judge, but if it’s there on offer, who wouldn’t take it?”
Three of Cowie’s children live with her, while the other seven have moved out. She collects disability benefits for a son, child tax credits, child benefit and a jobseekers’ allowance.
A smiling Mandy Cowie looking at the camera, Photo Credit: Daily Mail
Cowie’s 24-year-old daughter, Cristal, has picked up some tips from her mother on how to maximize welfare money, saying: “I’m still with the baby’s dad, but he doesn’t live at my house. People say he lives there, but he doesn’t … If we were to live together, our benefits would get stopped, so we might as well be together and live in different houses.”
According to Express, the British government spends more than $201 million in welfare benefits on 27,000 large families.
