500$?? You’re either uninformed, lying, or really bad at math:

- 561€ cash hand out alone amount to 610$ already

- rent and heating are paid in full, which can be up to another 500€ in the city where I live

- health insurance is free which would otherwise cost ~300€ as a private insurance

Thus, Bürgergeld is closer to 1500$ or 3x your phantasy amount.