Homeless Man Lives 21 Years Without Knowing He Has RM256,000 In Pension Account
A 71-year-old scavenger in China was shocked to discover he had over RM275,000 sitting in a forgotten pension account.
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For 21 years, an elderly man in central China survived by scavenging rubbish after squandering his severance pay from a state-owned shop
However, the 71-year-old, surnamed Ru, recently discovered that his forgotten pension account held a staggering 420,000 yuan (RM256,000).
According to South China Morning Post, the unexpected windfall came to light during a routine welfare check.
Social workers in Changde, Hunan province, found Ru living in an abandoned building and eventually persuaded him to move into a shelter.
After reviewing his personal details, officials realised that his 30-year employment history meant he had been entitled to retirement benefits since 2015
His monthly entitlement of 3,700 yuan (RM2,255) had simply been sitting there, accumulating for nearly a decade.
Completely disconnected from social developments, Ru assumed he had forfeited his pension.
Without the funds to pay for out-of-pocket endowment insurance, he had no idea that his former employer's salary deductions had already secured his future
Sobbing as he received his bank card, Ru told the media, "It goes without saying that I am happy. I never expected this to happen. I am grateful for the support from the social assistance authority and other related government departments."
Now equipped with financial security and warned about telecommunication scams, Ru plans to finally rent a proper flat and visit his hometown.
