(Minghui.org) I was deeply touched today when reading an article on the Minghui website, “How Many More Times Can Master Grant Us Such an Opportunity?” I am ashamed for not making enough effort to write articles for Minghui due to my wrong notions. Now, I will share how I finally received my retirement benefits after following my faith in Master and Falun Dafa.
I had passed the legal retirement age several years ago but had not received my retirement benefits until recently. I used to work for an employer with decent benefits, but I lost my job after refusing to give up my faith in Falun Dafa. This was the beginning of many tribulations.
For several years I struggled to obtain food and a place to live and couldn’t travel because I couldn’t renew my ID. Finding a job and paying for my social security became difficult, if not impossible, making it hard for me to apply for retirement.
From stories on Minghui, and fellow practitioners I know, I heard of similar experiences: Some had their pensions suspended. Others were forced to return pensions they had received, and some were forced to stop practicing Falun Dafa as a condition to receive retirement benefits. After leaving a brainwashing detention center more than a year ago, I couldn’t find a job and struggled to pay for living expenses. The trauma from the brainwashing also took a toll on my family and me. We needed time to heal.
Despite the hurdles, I was not ready to give up on my retirement benefits. With strong faith in Master and Dafa and encouragement from fellow practitioners, I decided to make my best effort to rectify this situation.
Following the Employment Dispute Arbitration process, I asked the authorities to make up for my social security file per the Labor Contract Law and Social Insurance Law. The agency turned down my request, citing my detention record for practicing Falun Dafa. My efforts to obtain my personnel files were also fruitless, as my employers did not keep my payroll records, and my compensation over the past 20 years had been paid in cash.
The local government was in a campaign to eliminate Falun Dafa practitioners. Party officials and the police offered to help me get my retirement if I agreed to sign a document to stop practicing Falun Dafa. I told them no. With fellow practitioners’ help, I submitted a complaint to the higher-level supervision agency.
To my surprise, the head of the supervision agency personally took on the case. In two weeks, my former employer informed me that they would allow me to make up the 20 years of unpaid social security dues. My employer and the Employment Dispute Arbitration advised me to ask the court to rule in my favor, but they did not provide any documentation indicating my employment contract.
After lengthy negotiations, I finally received a salary statement for five years. Unsatisfied with the lack of solid proof of employment, the arbitration agency issued a document of non-acceptance. Under the policy, if anyone fails to make up social security payments within two years of leaving their employer, they are disqualified. However, only a few days later, a new policy was in place, allowing me to bring the case to court.
Unable to find a lawyer, I went to the court alone. A group of officials from the other party were sitting on the other side – their lawyer, administration chief, a director, and two financial managers were present. I did not feel alone because Master was with me all the time. The verdict came quickly, and I won.
Under Master’s blessing, I finally received the retirement benefits I deserve.
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