Wealthy 88-year-old widow sparks outrage with question about the age pension

An Australian widow has sparked outrage over her “entitled” question about the pension to a money columnist.

A question posed by an 88-year-old widow to a money columnist has sparked fury online, with Aussies mocking the woman and calling her “entitled” for seeking advice.

The woman was one of many who sent a question to author and Nine newspapers’ columnist Noel Whittaker, asking how she can get access to a pension after her husband died.

“My husband and I received a part pension but he passed away and I now have all the assets but no pension,” she wrote to Whittaker’s Ask Noel column.

“I am 88 and own my own home. I have $680,000 in savings and $180,000 in shares. My income is $25,000 p.a. is there anything I can do to get a part pension?”

This is not the widow who asked the question, but it seems Aussies pictured her fanning wads of cash after reading her question.

The question, though innocent enough, sparked outrage on social media among younger Aussies who mocked the widow for seeking advice.

One Twitter user joked that it was the kind of question that would bring Whittaker to drink.

“How often do you think Fairfax’s money columnist has to drink a straight shot of hard liquor before answering a question like this every week,” the user wrote.

How often do you think Fairfax's money columnist has to drink a straight shot of hard liquor before answering a question like this every week pic.twitter.com/bOr7erFEtT

— Evie (@tiredandstrong) July 19, 2023

In a follow-up tweet, the user reacted to the headline of another Ask Noel column that read “We have $1m in assets. Can we get the age pension?”

The user tweeted they “would have willingly died of alcohol poisoning before answering this” question.

I would have willingly died of alcohol poisoning before answering this pic.twitter.com/0ONh5fhA8w

— Evie (@tiredandstrong) July 19, 2023

The pile-on continued, with plenty more slamming the woman for being “entitled”, greedy, and mocking her for wanting even more money than she already had to spend over her remaining years.

“The problem with old people these days is they’re too entitled. Back in my day, old people reused their tea bags and were grateful,” someone wrote.

“Lady you’re 88, where are you getting 25k per year if not investments? You’ll be fine, karen,” another replied.

“How much longer does this person think they’re going to live that they need more than $1 million …”

The problem with old people these days is they’re too entitled. Back in my day, old people reused their tea bags and were grateful

— ben (@benjessup) July 19, 2023

Lady you're 88, where are you getting 25k per year if not investments? You'll be fine, karen

— Ben Helliwell (@shihad_rocks) July 19, 2023

i’m old! gimme gimme gimme! pic.twitter.com/10xRNWteiZ

— sin wagon (@persnalisedmilk) July 19, 2023

Many even commented that the question was the exact kind of “fake” submission dreamt up for columnists to “enrage readers”, and someone posed their own mock question to Whittaker, pretending to be a centuries-old, millionaire dragon.

“I own my own home, have 6 million ingots in assets, and my income is several gold bullion per month. I am 300 years old. I am a fire-breathing dragon. Can I claim the part pension?” they wrote.

I assume these stories are faked, like the agony aunt gossip columns of the past. The sole purpose is to enrage readers.

— Julian Lalor (@SwizzleSister) July 19, 2023

How much longer does this person think they're going to live that they need more than $1 million ...

— kristin (she/her) (@kristin8X) July 19, 2023

88! Jesus Christ just cash in some of those shares or take out and some savings and live it up for the next few years

— char (old version) (@universe93) July 19, 2023

Draw down on the 680k. Thats what it is there for.

— Michael Hillier (@hillierme) July 19, 2023

But some, although still baffled by the question, had more earnest replies for the woman, including for her to “cash in” her shares or take out some of her savings and “live it up for the next few years”.

In the column, Whittaker said the woman’s question showed a harsh lesson that a surviving partner can lose their pension if “all the money” in a will was left to them instead of “being judiciously spread among family members”.

He said while an aged pension appeared out of reach for the woman she would “certainly” qualify for a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card.

Pensions seem to be a touchy subject for Australians since major changes came were made 1 to the eligibility thresholds for receiving the payment, which came into effect on July 1 this year.