"Hartz and warmly" - Ralf: 35 years without a job - and proud of it

Created: 2022-12-17 13:58

By: Sina Koch

Many residents at "Hartz und Herzen" receive Hartz IV. Despite government support, financial hardship is omnipresent among the participants.

Ralf doesn't seem to care:

The social documentary "Hartz and warm" shows the everyday life of people in social hotspots.

The protagonists are often Hartz IV recipients, but also people who live on the subsistence level despite their job.

Week after week, the RTLZWEI viewers can experience the hard everyday life of the residents from their sofa at home.

The most popular filming locations include the Benz barracks in Mannheim and the Groß Klein prefab housing estate in Rostock – but the residential area in Trier-West also appealed to viewers.

MANNHEIM24 reports on this.

"Hartz and warm" in Trier: Ralf is proud to be on social security

At the moment, RTLZWEI is showing reruns from different "Hartz und Herzen" locations - until it continues on December 19th with new episodes of "Hartz und Herzen - Tag für Tag Rostock Groß Klein".

While some suffer from the Hartz IV clichés and try to fight against the evil voices who accuse them of being just too lazy, others are proud to be on welfare.

For example, Janine from Mannheim has set herself the goal of being a role model for her twins - and through hard work completed her training as a make-up artist.

In the meantime, the Benz barracks woman is making a real career and has opened her own shop.

Ralf from Trier-West is a complete opposite: he has been living on the poverty line for decades and has not had a permanent job in the last 35 years.

"Hartz und cordial" darling Janine opens her own salon - with Elvis as a guest

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"Hartz and warm": Ralf has been unemployed since he was 21 - "I can't afford things like that"

Ralf has been living with his wife Hanelore in Magnerichstraße for 10 years.

"I've been right all my life that I didn't go to work," explains the 56-year-old in the social documentary, when he compares his financial situation with a family member who has to make do with a small pension.

Ralf is proud of not having worked his whole life: "They always called me: lazy pig - I am, absolutely!" reveals the father of two in front of the RTLZWEI camera.

Ralf cannot understand how his brother-in-law worked for his small pension for 40 years.

He has received Hartz IV since he was 21. "Sure, I can't afford things like someone who works, but I don't have to starve," Ralf continued in the social documentary.

The 56-year-old is diabetic and suffers from the chronic lung disease COPD - he also regularly consumes alcohol, which can lead to a worse course of the disease.

"Hartz and sincerely": Ralf and his wife live on 700 euros Hartz IV per month

Ralf has neither a degree nor a job.

Again and again he tries to get away from the bottle - but the abstinence hits his mind: "At the moment I'm just irritated because of all the crap," reveals Ralf in "Hartz und cordial".

He wishes for his future: "That I stay healthy and that things continue as before".

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Hanelore and Ralf receive 700 euros in Hartz IV per month – from which they are happy to go on a family outing with their daughter and grandson at the beginning of the month.

The social documentary also shows how Ralf's health is deteriorating – and the "Hartz and warm" protagonist ends up in the hospital.

(sic)