"The jobless assert that they have a higher standard of living with taxpayer funds than they would if they were employed"

In the small town of Herten, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, a unique story unfolds. Jan, a 24-year-old man, and his mother Sandra, aged 55, have been living together for many years, relying on welfare for their livelihood.

Sandra, who has been unemployed for 38 years, spends her days in a relaxed manner, taking care of their three cats and maintaining a clean home. Jan, on the other hand, is 24 and has never held a job or undergone any formal training.

Despite their circumstances, the duo expresses satisfaction with their current situation. They have no concerns about their living expenses, as their rent, utilities, and cat necessities are all covered by the welfare office, amounting to a total of 1,100 euros per month. Sandra has stated that they live better on welfare than if they were to work full-time.

Their simple lifestyle is marked by frugal choices. Meals consist of tea or coffee together, and they prefer to keep their possessions to a minimum, laughing about their modest belongings.

The mother-son duo has become the focus of RTL-II's poverty report titled "Poor Germany", and an episode featuring them will air on August 30, 2025, at 8:15 PM on RTL Two.

However, it's important to note that Jan and Sandra's behaviour is not representative of all welfare recipients. Most aim to return to work as soon as possible. As for the reasons behind their long-term reliance on social welfare, there are no specific publicly available sources to explain this.

Despite the controversy surrounding their story, Jan and Sandra remain content with their lives, living each day in a relaxed and frugal manner.