In Germany, if a 21-year-old German citizen claims to be very poor, has no income, and does not work, and if he lives alone, can he receive welfare benefits?
Can he receive housing subsidies and daily living allowances?
If he says that he receives no welfare at all, is he lying?
He applied to study in the UK—can he obtain enough financial aid or loans to afford studying in the UK?
He also says his mother is a social worker, whose salary should not be low and should be sufficient to support the three-person family and even pay for his university education.
But he says he cannot afford a British university, and he also does not apply to any German university.
Yet he accepts a large amount of money (several thousand euros) from a Finnish minor whom he met online.
1. Can a 21-year-old German citizen living alone receive welfare benefits?
Yes, if he truly lives independently and has no income, he may be eligible for Bürgergeld (Germany’s basic social security for adults, formerly Hartz IV).
Basic living allowance: roughly €563/month for a single adult.
Housing and heating costs: can be covered if reasonable (depending on city/region).
Conditions:
Must be able to work at least 3 hours/day (erwerbsfähig)
Must actively apply for jobs or training, as required by the Jobcenter
➡ If he is living independently with zero income, he can legally receive welfare and housing support.
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2. Can he receive housing subsidies and daily living allowances?
Housing: Covered through Jobcenter if the rent is considered “reasonable.”
Daily living allowances: Paid as part of Bürgergeld.
So yes, an independent adult with no income should receive both.
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3. If he says he receives no welfare at all, is he lying?
If he lives alone and has no income, then yes, it would be unusual for him not to apply for or receive welfare.
Therefore, claiming no welfare in this scenario is likely misleading or false, unless he deliberately chose not to apply, which is rare.
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4. Can he get enough financial aid or loans to study in the UK?
German BAföG: Limited support for study abroad, but not nearly enough to cover full UK tuition (~£15,000–£38,000/year).
UK student loans: Not available to German citizens unless they are settled in the UK.
➡ Realistically, he cannot fully fund a UK degree through public aid or loans. His statement that he cannot afford UK university is accurate.
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5. Why does he not apply to German universities?
German public universities charge little to no tuition, so cost is not an obstacle.
Possible explanations:
1. Lack of motivation to study
2. Avoiding adult responsibilities
3. Using “UK dream” or “poverty” story as a pretext to attract sympathy or support
This is a red flag for avoidance behavior or manipulative intent.
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6. Why is he accepting thousands of euros from a Finnish minor online?
This is highly abnormal and concerning.
Key points:
The recipient is a minor (under 18)
The adult is taking significant sums of money (~thousands of euros)
This is a classic sign of grooming, manipulation, or financial exploitation
Most likely explanation:
He exaggerates or fabricates poverty to manipulate the minor emotionally
He creates a narrative of helplessness to receive money
His mother’s income and Germany’s social safety net make him not truly impoverished
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7. Summary Table
Aspect Reality / Likely Explanation
Living alone, no income → welfare Eligible for Bürgergeld and housing support
Claiming no welfare Likely misleading if he lives independently
Studying in UK → financial aid Insufficient; BAföG and UK loans can’t fully cover tuition
German university free, but doesn’t apply Suggests avoidance or lack of motivation
Accepting money from Finnish minor Likely emotional/financial exploitation; manipulative behavior
Mother is social worker Means he likely is not truly poor
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Overall Explanation
1. Financial/legal side:
If living independently, he is entitled to state support; if he says otherwise, he may be lying.
UK studies are extremely expensive; he cannot cover them through aid.
2. Behavioral/psychological side:
His story about poverty is likely exaggerated.
He uses the narrative of helplessness to manipulate a minor online for money.
Avoiding German universities and work suggests intentional avoidance and manipulation rather than actual hardship.
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✅ Conclusion:
This is not genuine extreme poverty. The behavior indicates emotional/financial manipulation of a vulnerable online minor, exploiting both sympathy and the perception of helplessness.