Overview

• Angelique and Mike from Pirmasens were convicted by the Amtsgericht Pirmasens for benefit-related machinations, while the featured RTL Zwei episodes were filmed before the trial and are still airing.
• The couple was shown receiving more than €3,000 per month through overlapping approvals, including double Bürgergeld and unemployment benefits, and spending on discretionary items such as a €600 bed, about €800 monthly for food, and over €100 at a shooting stand.
• They also cleared public book-exchange cabinets to sell the books online for roughly €70–80 a month and reported additional small online earnings that were not disclosed to the Jobcenter.
• In Rostock, Pamela disputes reduced payments after her widow’s pension was offset, as the Jobcenter says it withheld funds to recoup a rental deposit it advanced, leaving her with only part of her expected Bürgergeld.
• Other cases in the series highlight ongoing administrative shortfalls, including Jasmin’s two-month lapse in payments after a move and a denied hotel request for homeless Monika in Bremerhaven.