UPDATE: 12/07/2025 3:02 P.M. PST: Ed Bambas did not lose his pension. The veteran revealed to CBS News on Friday that when General Motors went bankrupt in 2012, he opted to receive a lump sum payment of $300,000 in lieu of monthly pension benefits. It was after that when his wife fell ill and passed away. A GM spokesperson told PerezHilton.com this weekend:
“Mr. Bambas’ personal story is deeply moving, and it’s wonderful to see the outpouring of support for him. We are grateful for what he has contributed to GM and to our country. While we don’t share details about individuals, in 2012 salaried GM retirees who were receiving monthly pension payments were given several options, including continuation of monthly lifetime payments or a lump sum payout, if they preferred. Additionally, starting in 2008, retirees older than 65 receive a $300 monthly lifetime payment for supplemental Medicare coverage.”
The internet can be an overwhelmingly negative place sometimes… But then, stories like these happen, and it restores your faith in the human race.
On December 2, TikTok user Samuel Weidenhofer AKA @itssozer introduced his 7.7 million followers to Ed Bambas, a retired veteran working in retail to be able to afford to survive. The 88-year-old explained in the video that he was working in a Detroit Meijer store after his wife passed away 7 years ago. He revealed he’d worked for General Motors and retired in 1999, but since they went bankrupt in 2012, he lost his pension.
All this happened while his wife was sick… So he lost his healthcare coverage, his income, and ended up having to sell his home to pay for her medical expenses. Something that SHOULD NOT happen. Even more so, this man is a veteran to the United States Army, having to work five days a week, eight hours a day, just to stay afloat. Heartbreaking and infuriating all at the same time.
Related: TikToker & Dillard’s Manager Goes Viral For IMMACULATE Christmas Display
When Samuel said he wanted to set up a GoFundMe so the internet could fund Ed’s retirement, the elderly man started to cry. See the touching video (below):
@itssozer 88 year old veteran still working.. ????❤️ (donate in B1O) #love #kind #veteran
Aww…
Such a sweet thing to do. And we have an AH-mazing update! As of writing this, Ed’s GFM sits at nearly $1.6 MILLION bucks in just two days! You can see for yourself HERE. Truly incredible!!
In a new interview for WXYZ Detroit Thursday, Ed revealed he’s “never been” on social media, so the donations came as a huge shock. He got choked up and began crying when he revealed he goes to his wife’s “gravesite every day” because it “gets him through” his life. He’s clearly SO deserving of all this. It warms our heart to see him smiling because he’ll finally get to retire and spend quality time with his loved ones.
Not to mention, Samuel said he flew all the way from his home in Australia to find Ed and make this all happen. How wholesome!
@wxyzdetroit An 88-year-old veteran working as a cashier at a Michigan Meijer store has become an unlikely internet sensation after his story touched millions of people worldwide, leading to a fundraising campaign to help him retire for good.
Ugh. We love to hear stories like this. We’re wishing Ed a happy retirement! Reactions, Perezcious readers?
[Image via itssozer/TikTok]
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