Scandal in Graz: Couple earns over 300,000 euros with twelve marriages!

Scandal in Graz: Couple earns over 300,000 euros with twelve marriages!

A couple from Graz is causing a stir after getting married and then divorced twelve times over a period of 40 years. The suspicion that this behavior serves a well-thought-out plan for financial gain is becoming increasingly louder. In fact, the divorces resulted in damages of over 300,000 euros for the pension insurance Mercury reported.

The first wedding took place in 1982 and it was the second marriage for the couple's wife. In Austria, women receive a widow's pension for every marriage that lasts at least two and a half years, with no upper limit on the number of marriages and divorces. In 2022, the pension insurance company refused to pay out the widow's pension and informed the police about suspicions of serious commercial fraud.

Legal framework

Despite the investigations that were initiated, the proceedings were discontinued because no fraud could be proven. It turned out that the scam was classified as “abusive” but not punishable. Interestingly, the couple lived in a stable relationship despite their numerous marriages and divorces. However, they did not want to comment on the allegations.

In order to understand the effects and conditions of the widow's pension in Austria, it is important to know that it must be applied for via an application. The amount of the widow's pension depends on the ratio of the income of the deceased and the surviving spouse in the last two calendar years before death österreich.gv.at explained.

Calculation and requirements

If the deceased's income is reduced, for example due to illness or unemployment, the income of the last four calendar years is taken into account. The percentage for the widow's pension is between 0% and 60% of the deceased's pension. An example shows that a widow's pension of 49.82% can be calculated if the calculation basis for the widow and the deceased has corresponding income.

The widow receives 40% if the calculation bases are the same and up to 60% if the survivor's income is a maximum of one third of that of the deceased. This means that a widow's pension will be increased accordingly if your gross income is below 2,547.91 euros. Disruption could occur if the survivor's total income exceeds twice the 2012 maximum contribution base.

The widow's pension is paid out monthly on the 1st of the following month, with a special pension payment of double the amount being paid out in April and October. It should be mentioned that the amount of the pension for divorced spouses may not be higher than the maintenance obligation or the actual maintenance payment.