Overview

• DerWesten summarizes new segments from RTL Zwei’s social-documentary formats that follow Sozialhilfe- and Bürgergeld-Empfänger through daily financial pressures.
• In a current "Hartz und herzlich" storyline, Pascal says he is in private insolvency and will not settle a bill tied to a delivered iPad, which he admits he resold, noting the matter is now with his insolvency advisor.
• A "Hartz Rot Gold" episode shows the Jobcenter cutting Jessica and Olaf’s Bürgergeld by 20 percent after an unreported Minijob, leaving the couple with roughly €270 after fixed costs and at times relying on found, partly expired food while also caring for several pets.
• Participants featured in the September 25 broadcast express that the January 1, 2024 Bürgergeld increase to about €563 for single adults has not kept pace with rising expenses, and there has been no additional increase in 2025.
• The reports focus on individual cases and enforcement actions rather than policy changes, citing episodes aired June 24 and July 29 alongside the latest late-September coverage.