Dean used to work at the steelworks in Scunthorpe, but now he, his wife and their seven children and stepchildren get by on benefits. Dean is a guide to his world, where being out of work is nothing out of the ordinary, where people do what they can to survive and where keeping your kids on the straight and narrow is a challenge. On Dean's estate, the film follows the shoplifter who sells stolen deodorant on the cheap and a 15-year-old boy who has been excluded from seven different schools. For them and many others across the country, this is what it means to be skint.

Dean's wife Claire became a mother in her teens and is determined her daughters won't go the same way. It's difficult not to worry that her 15-year-old daughter might follow in her footsteps when she has been driving around with an older boy. Sixteen-year-old Jemelia left home at 14 and by 15 had a baby, who was immediately taken into care. The film follows Jemelia during the build-up to the court's decision about the future of her baby and Jemelia speaks honestly about her reaction to the verdict. Relying on benefits to support your children is no easy option either, as Dean and Claire are well aware. Hayley is just 21, but has five children. Neither she nor her partner work and they're hoping to get married, until their child tax credits are cut off. Meanwhile, 19-year-old Fergie is wanted by the police and is worried about whether his new girlfriend will wait for him if he ends up in prison

The episode follows 37-year-old Dean, his wife Claire and their seven children and step-children as the local pub – The Desert Rat – re-opens. Three months ago, The Rat was attracting so many problems with customers that it was shut down. Now Claire’s cousin Denise is taking it on and wants to make it a success, without the previous unwanted attention. For Dean and Claire this is a rare night off from the children to go to the opening night. Just outside the pub is ‘The Wall’ where people congregate – often when they have nothing better to do. The Wall regulars are sure that the pub re-opening spells trouble with the draw of daytime drinking. The film features some of The Wall regulars. Thirty-five-year-old Kieron used to shoplift to feed his drug habit until it he was banned from Scunthorpe town centre with an ASBO.

Bringing up children when work is scarce is never easy, but it becomes an uphill battle if you are also struggling with addiction. This episode follows the impact that addiction can have on family life. Gail's partner died of alcoholism in his 30s and Gail is now trying to keep her daughter, who was deeply affected by the loss of her stepfather, from going off the rails. Emma wants to keep her family together, but can her son's dad stay free from alcohol and tablets? Meanwhile Dean has been helping his little brother Greg with his job search.