Lotto winner loses access to pension after winning $60,000

Lifestyle

Written by Brielle Burns, News.com.au

Australian widow wins $60,000 [$40,890 USD] A man whose pension was “unexpectedly” terminated just for betting on the Lotto is warning other Australians to be careful what they wish for.

Frank Kemmler, 70, from Adelaide, Australia, told his family he was going on vacation after learning he had won thousands of dollars in the lottery.

“It definitely felt good when I saw the numbers,” he said. Recent happenings on friday.

“I called my family. I said, ‘Pack your bags and go on vacation!’

The excitement quickly disintegrated when he visited his local Centrelink. They were then told that their monthly lottery winnings would be considered a form of income and their access to pensions would be reduced.

“[It] I was a little disillusioned. “On one hand you think you’ve won, but on the other hand they’ve taken the win away from you,” he said.

“It was so unexpected that it took me a few days to realize I had been isolated for no reason. That’s all I’m lucky about.”

Kemmler said he intended to receive his winnings as a lump sum, but was not given that option.

This 70-year-old man will now have to pay all the medical bills and medication costs that were previously covered by his pension.

Mr. Kemmler’s monthly payments are now gone.

However, when he reapplied to receive his pension on December 1, he was told that he was “very busy” and that he might have to wait up to six months to receive his pension.

“Everyone would think I’m getting younger, but I’m not a year younger, I’m a year older,” he said.

He urged Australians on pensions to be careful if they were lucky enough to win the lottery, as their benefits could be cut.

“Pensions are not my main concern because I just want to prevent others from falling into the same trap,” he said.

“The people who are buying this, [lottery] Ticket, no warning anywhere…no warning of losing your pension.

“If I had known then what I know now, I would have given the victory to my daughter and kept the pension for myself.”

A Service Australia spokesperson told news.com.au: “We are extending our offer to work directly with Mr Kemmler to ensure he receives the support he deserves.”