A couple in Graz, Austria, married and divorced 12 times over 43 years allegedly to manipulate a pension system, with each union resulting in pension payouts and severance compensation, reported Newsweek.
The case began when the wife, who is now 73, initially lost her widow’s pension after remarrying in 1982. To offset the loss, she was granted a €27,000 severance payment. The couple divorced in 1988, reinstating her widow’s pension.
They repeated this cycle multiple times—marrying, divorcing, and reaping financial benefits, with each marriage lasting around three years. After each divorce, the woman would receive her pension or compensation, only to lose it upon remarriage.
By their latest divorce in May 2022, the woman had received over €326,000 in pensions and payouts.
Authorities grew suspicious when she sought another pension payment after the 12th divorce, which was denied. A court case was brought against the pension fund, but in March 2023, the Supreme Court ruled that repeated divorces were an abuse of the system.
This case has led to an official fraud investigation by the Styrian state police directorate, with a trial expected soon.
According to Newsweek, witnesses reported that the couple’s relationship was far from the chaotic narrative the paperwork suggested. Neighbours and relatives claimed that despite the official divorces, the pair remained together, sharing a bed and living as a couple.
Similar cases, such as a 2022 incident in Ireland, have also attracted international attention for exploiting pension schemes.
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