Obese Couple Lives Off Taxpayer Money Because They Are 'Too Fat To Work'

With a combined weight of 54 stone — the equivalent of 756 lbs— Stephen Beer and Michelle Coombe claim that they are too overweight to find and keep even a part-time job. The Plymouth couple receives the equivalent of $24,760 per year in taxpayer dollars due to their claim. Stephen weighs 434 lbs, and Michelle is 322 lbs.

They were featured in a documentary for Channel Five called Benefits: Too Fat to Work.

Included in the documentary was footage of their $3,700 wedding, which included catering for 50 guests, Michelle's dress, and a tuxedo that needed to be custom-made to fit Stephen. All of this was paid for with the benefits they receive from taxpayer money.

Stephen has many health issues due to his weight, such as type 2 diabetes. He can only stand for short stretches, and ended up in the hospital during the wedding.

A blood clot in his lung resulted in nine days in the hospital, rather than a honeymoon. A personal cleaner comes twice a day to dress and wash him, as he can't do it himself. This service costs $9,900 per year. 

Stephen used to work, but ended his cleaning business after having a stroke six years ago. Michelle has never worked. 

They are enrolled in a weight management course, but the documentary included footage of them celebrating a few pounds lost by eating their favorite kebabs. 

"Is it right? Of course not. But at the end of the day I did work. I have worked, I haven’t sat on my a*** all the time."

"I have done some work and so really, why not?’" he said in an interview for the documentary.

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