On Benefits

A single father with six children cannot afford to both feed his family and heat their home, while a man who was seriously injured in a car accident more than 10 years ago struggles to prove to the authorities that he is unable to work, and a woman setting up a fortune telling business faces an uncertain future.

The stories of four people who have spent a total of almost 90 years on benefits. They include Greater Manchester couple Irene and Steve, who between them have been claiming for 70 years. Irene suffers with agoraphobia, and until recently husband Steve received a care allowance to look after her, but after a recent assessment their money has been cut by £6,000. Plus, a 49-year-old woman who once worked in the benefits office, only for her arthritis to leave her relying on the system, and a 57-year-old Navy veteran who suffers post-traumatic stress disorder after his experiences in the Gulf War.

Dad-of-three Dave is £30k in debt and has to weigh up whether a job that he has been offered will help his situation or whether he should stay on benefits, and Rapper Daz is in debt and about to be kicked out of his house unless fame and fortune knock on the door.

67-year-old Ron believes his ninth wife, Cristel from the Philippines, will be the perfect carer for him in his old age, a carer who looks after his wife hopes a new home will bring happiness and Gwyn dreams of a life on the ocean waves.

Stories of people struggling on benefits. Mark from Cheltenham is a part-time drag queen who lost his Spanish bar after a licensing dispute. Now home and claiming sickness benefits for depression, he is keen to get well enough to work again. Plus, the stories of a widowed grandmother whose life has been tough since her drug-addicted grandson was sent to prison for attacking her, and a 63-year-old joiner who cannot work because of back trouble.

Jimmy cannot find a job as his religious views stop him working on the Sabbath. Nicola has become an expert bargain hunter to help stretch her benefits. Father of ten Joe has a number of serious health conditions and hasn't had a shower at home for years.

27-stone Sarah dreams of solving her family's financial problems by making it as a plus size model. For 31-stone James, a fear of public spaces could be holding him back. Meanwhile in Brighton, housebound MS-sufferer Bryan has taken up indoor archery.

Marie dreams of getting back into security work, but life gets in the way. Mike was falsely accused, and now eats one meal a day in an attempt to save money. Billy hopes that music will be his route off benefits.

Three single mothers' different experiences with the benefits system, including mother-of-five Vanessa from Leeds, who hopes that entering a nationwide beauty contest will kickstart her dreams of becoming a model. Plus, north Wales single mum Tasha, who was signed off work with mental health problems, only to be told she does not quality for long-tem sickness benefits, and divorcee Hannah from Basingstoke, who has big dreams of becoming an artist.

Shaun is trying to fight the temptation to fall back into his criminal past and make a better future off the system. Leon has exhausted all the job opportunities in his area and must look further afield. Mark suffers from diabates, sciatica and angina, and has been begging the housing association to move him.

Wales is home to the famous Valleys and male voice choirs, but it's also home to the highest level of benefit claims in Britain. Dawn sepnds all her money looking after five children, Rachael relies on charity shops to clothe her family, while Claire's heart condition stops her finding a full-time job.

James hopes that his alter ego Mrs Plonker will help him get into showbiz and off benefits. Melissa dreams of being a model to get her family of three off the system. Tracy has type-2 diabetes, hindering her efforts to look for work.

In Blackpool, Kung Fu master Mark hopes to get back in to paid employment after being dismissed for breaking a colleague's nose, despite having his benefits cut William has a mobility scooter on his shopping list, and Clive and Sheila are planning to get married on a benefits budget.

In Britain there are over 700,000 people reliant on benefits, and they include people of all ages. 32-year-old Richard is eager to get his five-member family out of their two-bedroom home. 57-year-old Clive's partying gets in the way of keeping a job. Pensioner Cori's lack of teeth spoils her plans for stardom, so is trying to find a proxy to get into the music industry by.

Catching up with a few familiar faces to find out how their lives have changed. Doncaster man Carl has been living on benefits since a motorcycle accident left him with multiple injuries. Now he has become the drummer in a band for musicians with disabilities. Karen and Paul lost their launderette business and are now rebuilding their home - the only problem is, they believe the house is haunted - and things are looking up for newlyweds Andy and Diane.