A widower who thought he’d hit the jackpot when he won $60,000 on Lotto has been dealt a brutal blow as he issued a warning to Aussies.
Frank Kemmler picked up the phone to tell his family to pack their bags for a holiday as soon as he learned about the surprise windfall.
But his life-changing moment was snatched away after a visit to his local Centrelink to fill out some paperwork regarding his disability support pension.
A shocked Mr Kemmler was told his Lotto prize was considered a form of income as his winnings would be paid out to him every month, therefore making him ineligible to receive the pension.
‘It was certainly a nice feeling when I checked me numbers,’ Mr Kemmler told A Current Affair on Friday.
Frank Kemmler (pictured) was told he was no longer be eligible for his pension after he won $60,000 on Lotto
‘I rang the family. I said, ‘pack up, we’re going on a holiday!”
‘[It] was a bit of a disillusionment. You think you win on the one hand, but they take it away with the other hand.’
He currently has to pay full price for GP appointments and medication which previously covered under his pension.
Mr Kemmler urged Aussies to be careful what they wish for and that they too could be in line to lose their government benefits if they are lucky enough to snare a Lotto windfall.
‘The pension is not really my main worry, because I’m just trying to stop other people from falling into the same trap,’ he said.
‘These people that are buying these [lottery] tickets, there’s no warning anywhere … to say that you’re going to lose your pension.’
‘If I’d known then what I know now, I would’ve given the win to my daughter and kept the pension for myself.’
Mr Kemmler issued a warning to Aussies they could be in line to lose their pension if they win Lotto (pictured, stock image of people queuing outside a Centrelink office)
Mr Kemmler has spent his winnings.
He reapplied to receive the pension again but has been told he may have to wait for up to six months before he’s put back on the program.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Services Australia for comment.
Disability pensioners who win the Lotto and receive their prize money through monthly instalments are considered income earners.
This could mean that if the amount they get paid by The Lott exceeds the amount of pension they get, their income would be to high in order to continue receiving the pension.
The Aussie widower shared his story to warn other pensioners hoping to claim a Lotto windfall
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