12 Times Divorce, 12 Times Remarriage: Couple’s 40-Year Scam Finally Exposed!

Austria(The Uttam Hindu): In Indian tradition, marriage is seen as a lifelong commitment, but in some countries, divorce is more common. A striking case from Austria reveals how an unscrupulous couple exploited the welfare system for financial gain. Over 40 years, they divorced and remarried 12 times,12 Times Divorce, 12 Times Remarriage: Couple’s 40-Year Scam Finally Exposed! using a legal loophole to repeatedly claim substantial benefits.

According to *Hindustan Times*, the couple was caught after taking advantage of Austria’s welfare regulations. The woman, who had been receiving a widow's pension since 1981 following the death of her first husband, had accumulated around 1.8 crore rupees. However, when she remarried in 1982, her widow's pension was terminated. She was, however, given a severance payment of 15 lakh rupees. This severance payment, offered to women ending relationships in Austria, led the couple to realize a loophole in the law, which they began to exploit.

In 1988, the woman divorced her second husband, claiming he was unsupportive, and resumed receiving her widow's pension. When she remarried, the pension stopped, but she received another severance payment, this time worth 18 lakh rupees. This cycle of divorce, remarriage, and repeated welfare claims continued for the next several decades. Each time the couple divorced and remarried, the woman was either eligible for a widow's pension or a severance payment. Over the years, she married 13 times, with each marriage lasting about three years.

The couple’s manipulation of the system continued until May 2022, when authorities became suspicious and halted the woman’s widow’s pension. Investigators suspected the couple had been abusing the welfare system for years, prompting a deeper inquiry into their activities. This case underscores the vulnerabilities in welfare systems, revealing how individuals can exploit legal loopholes for personal gain. Governments face a significant challenge in closing such gaps and ensuring that benefits are properly allocated.