Millions of people watch people who live on little money and government subsidies in the shows “Hartz and Warm” or “Armes Deutschland”. Some of the protagonists also make the leap to work or training, among them Jean. Because he currently no longer receives benefits from the employment office. The 22-year-old has taken his first steps in the professional world.
The protagonist of “Hartz and cordial” moves to a small apartment in Rostock and lives off the citizens' money. Jean wants to start as a salesman and that's why he started training. “I really want to have something in my pocket,” the 22-year-old explains his decision. He likes the training and, however, there is a big drawback: the training does not represent a great financial leap. Quite the opposite: according to his own statements, with the citizens' money he had more in his pocket.
The former beneficiary of the citizen benefit has 400 euros less
“I'm just poor in terms of training. “In economic terms, I was better off at the employment office,” says this 22-year-old. By way of comparison: with citizens' money he had about 1,000 euros per month at his disposal. During his training he only receives about 660 euros. Therefore, to supplement his salary, he has now applied for child benefit and vocational training allowance (BAB). If we add all this up, Jean would get more in total than with the citizens' money. Although he initially gets less from the training, Jean does not regret the decision at all. Because he is happy not to receive any more citizen benefits. He is very motivated and is looking forward to his next stage as a trainee.
Jean returned to Rostock
The last few years have been turbulent for Jean. Because things got crazy for the father of two. He had to leave his two daughters in the care of the youth welfare office. His ex-girlfriend Cindy tried to bring the family back together. But Jean had other plans: he left Rostock and went to Schleswig-Holstein. As a result, his relationship with Cindy fell apart. He returned to Rostock in 2023. The reason? In Schleswig-Holstein he found no connection. “There was only one option: to come back here and start a new life here,” he said then in “Hartz and with warmth.”
“I have a job. Not yet, a little more would be nice. I have a mini-job for 110 euros and I can earn it in addition to my Hartz IV. I clean stairs there. I have fun with it, I like it,” he revealed last year. About his ex-girlfriend he said : “I would say that since I left Cindy, things have been a lot easier for me too. I can focus on myself. I have my apartment, I have my space, I have my things: I would never date a woman who doesn't already live alone ” And maybe the right one will come soon: he is currently still single… RTLZWEI shows “Hartz and Warm” every day from 4:05 p.m. to 8:05 p.m.