It is entirely possible that they were spending up to his income. You can call it poor planning or have no sympathy for them because they were living too richly for your tastes but the fact remains that it is not unreasonable to assume that his salary was or exceeded $150K and that he and his wife were living on a fairly tight budget that they would be able to afford if he were alive but which she cannot legitimately afford now that he is dead. And if they recently bought the house (likely given his age) and the value has gone down a bit and/or the real estate agent fees would exceed the equity in the house (possible for a $400K or $500K home), then selling may not be an option for her, either. And she may now have to pay for insurance benefits that her husband's job once provided.
Call it poor planning. Turn away because they were rich. The point remains that it is entirely possible that simply paying the bills that she had before he died that she could run through $30K in 3 months.
Yes, I suppose I'm curious about life insurance, too, but I'm willing to cut this lady some slack.
Why? Why not let her take responsiblity for HER poor planning, too? I'm more than willing to give them money, but I don't think we owe them "the lifestyle to which they have become accustomed."
How about we not feel sorry for them because they have already GOTTEN money and will get more. This woman should be out looking for a job -- unless, of course, her job has now because whining on TV so that WE, the good hearted people of this country, will support her and her children in the style her husband accustomed her to, but failed for provide for in case of his death.