KATE Simpson is proud of her teenage son Leo.
But she believes one son aged 18 is enough.
So imagine her surprise when the Child Tax Credit officials offered to pay her benefits - for her 16 sons, all born on the same day.
It was the culmination of a seven-month battle by Kate to secure payments after the introduction of the new Child Tax Credits.
She was initially told she did not qualify - and was then stunned to be told by officials that she had three sons with the same name and birthdate and then an astonishing 16 sons, all born at the same time.
Sadly for Kate, the benefits for those 16 clones never materialised. She could have had thousands of pounds.
But now Kate, of Lower Cumberworth, is singing the praises of staff in the tax office at Huddersfield.
"I want to congratulate them for their tenacity in handling my claim," she said.
"After 226 days of battling with the so-called National Helpline - which was impossible to get through to most of the time - I turned to the Huddersfield office for help.
"They showed empathy and worked on my case beyond the call of duty.
"I was wrongly told I was ineligible, then that I had three identical sons. Finally the computer system bred and I ended up with 16 clones.
"What a pity I did not receive payment for them. I would be very wealthy.
"But it has now been sorted out and the lump sum backdated to April.
"It is good enough for a Christmas bonus, thanks to the tax staff in Huddersfield".
A spokesman for the Child Tax Credit helpline said there had been initial problems with demand.
But most had been sorted out and payments were now being made to most people, he added.
