Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Lottery winners may no longer get welfare

March 30, 2012 at 1:02 pm

Lottery winners may no longer get welfare

Bill stops those who claim big jackpots from getting aid

Lansing— Michigan lawmakers have sent Gov. Rick Snyder legislation aimed at ensuring big lottery winners can't continue to get taxpayer assistance such as food stamps.
The House gave unanimous approval to the Senate bills Thursday. The legislation was sparked by revelations that two recent Michigan Lottery winners continued using food stamps to buy groceries despite their winnings.
In early March, a 24-year-old Lincoln Park woman acknowledged using food stamps for several months after cashing in a $700,000 lump sum lottery payment and buying a second home and new car. She was removed from the food assistance program for the poor.
"If you're really poor, you shouldn't be gambling," said state Rep. Dave Agema, R-Grandville. "Overall, the taxpayers are just fed up with people that are not poor abusing their Bridge Cards and their welfare."
Under the bills, lottery officials would be required to notify the state's Department of Human Services about winners of $1,000 or more.
The legislation also would put into state law a requirement for asset tests to help determine eligibility for some welfare programs in the state. That provision drew the most opposition from lawmakers, although some asset tests already are used in Michigan through state department policy.


From The Detroit News: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120330/POLITICS02/203300365#ixzz1qx6N2Lb4

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