An online post said retirees in Mudan District of Heze City, Shandong Province, have to be present and buy a five-yuan certificate to prove they're alive; otherwise, they will be assumed dead and are not entitled to their pension, the Xi'an Daily reported.

Working staff from the local Human Resources and Social Security Bureau explained that it was an effort to prevent imposters, and made clear that what retirees have to provide is not a "being dead or alive" certificate but a fingerprint.

However, he said it "seemed true" that the fingerprint verification table was sold at five yuan.

(China.org.cn March 28, 2012)

据《西安日报》报道，网上有帖子称，山东菏泽牡丹区的退休老人必须现身并购买5元的“没死证明”，否则就会被认定为死亡而不能领取退休金。

当地人力资源和社会保障局的工作人员解释说，此举是为了防止有人冒领养老金，并澄清退休老人要提供的并不是“死没死证明”，而是指纹。

至于指纹验证表卖五元这事，他表态说“好像是真的”。