A couple in Graz, Austria, allegedly manipulated the pension system by marrying and divorcing 12 times over 43 years, with each marriage resulting in pension payouts and severance compensation. According to a report by Newsweek, the scheme began when the wife, now 73, lost her widow’s pension after remarrying in 1982. To compensate for this, she was granted a €27,000 severance payment. The couple then divorced in 1988, allowing her to regain the widow’s pension. This cycle of marrying, divorcing, and collecting financial benefits continued, with each marriage lasting about three years.
By the time of their 12th divorce in May 2022, the woman had collected over €326,000 in pensions and severance payouts. Authorities grew suspicious when she sought another pension payment after the 12th divorce, which was ultimately denied. A lawsuit against the pension fund followed, but in March 2023, the Supreme Court ruled that the repeated divorces amounted to an abuse of the system.
The case has sparked an official fraud investigation by the Styrian state police directorate, with a trial expected soon. Interestingly, despite the official divorces, neighbors and relatives claimed that the couple continued to live together, sharing a bed and maintaining a domestic life. This case follows a similar 2022 incident in Ireland, where pension schemes were similarly exploited, drawing international attention.
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