Overview

• Stephan from Bremen discovered he’s barred from the labor market until 2028 after arriving intoxicated at Jobcenter appointments, halting his plan to resume full-time work.
• Pascal in Mannheim received a Familienkasse demand to repay over €4,000 in child benefit, threatening his fragile progress through a €20,000 debt burden.
• Petra and her son Pascal must create an Elster tax account and navigate digital filings alone as they launch their self-employment plans without professional support.
• Monika lost a signed lease when landlords uncovered her €110,000 debt load, illustrating how insolvency risks can block housing opportunities for welfare recipients.
• Jessica and Olaf rely on collecting bottle deposits and selling goods at flea markets to supplement reduced or suspended Bürgergeld payments and cover basic living costs.