OnlySunshine Posted May 19, 2011 Share Posted May 19, 2011 (edited) http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_localdtw/20110518/ts_yblog_localdtw/2m-michigan-lottery-winner-defends-use-of-food-stamps [quote]Ron French, Detroit News staff writer A Michigan man who won $2 million in a state lottery game continues to collect food stamps 11 months after striking it rich. And there's nothing the state can do about it, at least for now. Leroy Fick, 59, of Auburn won $2 million in the state lottery TV show "Make Me Rich!" last June. But the state's Department of Human Services determined he was still eligible for food stamps, Fick's attorney, John Wilson of Midland, said Tuesday. Eligibility for food stamps is based on gross income and follows federal guidelines; lottery winnings are considered liquid assets and don't count as income. As long as Fick's gross income stays below the eligibility requirement for food stamps, he can receive them, even if he has a million dollars in the bank. Food stamps are paid for through tax dollars and are meant to help support low-income families. "If you're going to try to make me feel bad, you're not going to do it," Fick told WNEM-TV in Saginaw on Monday. Wilson said Fick told the DHS officials he'd won $2 million but was told he could keep using the Bridge Card issued to him to buy groceries. Fick could not be reached for comment Tuesday. Al Kimichik, director of the office of inspector general for DHS, said the department could not comment on individual cases but that it this week began the process of requesting a waiver from the federal government to close the lottery loophole. If it is granted, assets would be counted in determining food stamp eligibility. Though the food stamp program is federal and states must follow U.S. guidelines, states sometimes request waivers of rules. Michigan was granted a waiver recently to stop college students from qualifying for food stamps. "For Leroy Fick to continue to use a Bridge Card, paid for by the taxpayers, after winning the lottery, is obscene," said Sen. Rick Jones, R-Grand Ledge. "What a waste of taxpayer money." Jones contacted DHS officials Monday about Fick's case, and was told the department's hands were tied by federal regulations. "There is no liquid asset requirement for getting food stamps," Jones said. "The department is asking the federal government for an immediate change (in policy). They're hoping this case will help the federal government act." Until then, Fick can collect food stamps and keep his lottery winnings in the bank. "I am not going to sit and debate the ethics of this," Wilson said. "But from his standpoint, he did what he was supposed to do -- he informed the state, and the state said he could keep using the card. The problem is with the state." [/quote] What do you think about this? I think it's not right and the federal government should have policies in place to revoke food stamps from those who are using it unnecessarily. If my state can do it for unemployment benefits, why can't Michigan do it for EBT? It's not fair to those who have a genuine need. This guy is just greedy. Edited May 19, 2011 by MaterMisericordiae Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winchester Posted May 19, 2011 Share Posted May 19, 2011 If the State has the right to take from one to give to another--if your tax money truly is at the disposal of the State, then this is really none of our business. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4588686 Posted May 19, 2011 Share Posted May 19, 2011 [quote name='Winchester' timestamp='1305846065' post='2243693'] If the State has the right to take from one to give to another--if your tax money truly is at the disposal of the State, then this is really none of our business. [/quote] So if people vote to give the state the power to collect taxes they have no right to continue to use that voting power to make sure that tax revenue is used as they wish? You're better than that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatherineM Posted May 19, 2011 Share Posted May 19, 2011 As someone who has gone through the embarrassment of using food stamps and the food bank, I can't imagine anyone using it who didn't need it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winchester Posted May 19, 2011 Share Posted May 19, 2011 [quote name='Hasan' timestamp='1305846293' post='2243695'] So if people vote to give the state the power to collect taxes they have no right to continue to use that voting power to make sure that tax revenue is used as they wish? You're better than that. [/quote] We don't vote on that. We vote for people who then tell us what to do, and they no longer have to obey the law in exercising their "representation." I am better than them. Vote for me in the next presidential election. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MithLuin Posted May 19, 2011 Share Posted May 19, 2011 Sure it is. Public policy for social programs is everyone's business. Wishing we would just get rid of the program is a valid opinion, but hardly the only possible reaction. Basically, it's a loophole. Winning the lottery should make you ineligible. I imagine liquid assets would be more difficult to keep track of than income, but I'm sure some cutoff could be determined. But there's always going to be people who are questionably qualified. For instance, one of my students was explaining to me that while [i]technically[/i] she should be counted as her mother's dependent (and thus wouldn't qualify), she can get food stamps in her own name (and does). As this young woman is also a single mother, I'm not really all that concerned with her attempts to bend the system. I did explain to her that food stamps are meant to be temporary, and you shouldn't be afraid to let them go when you got to a point where you no longer needed them. She seemed to understand that. Basically, the system is going to be abused as long as they're giving out free stuff. Some attempt to cut the dead weight so that the resources go to those who need it should always be made. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winchester Posted May 19, 2011 Share Posted May 19, 2011 Why should it make you ineligible? The interest from the money doesn't really make him rich. It's not considered income--it's wealth. Should a millionaire without a job have to give up his assets before he qualifies for food stamps? That hardly seems fair. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winchester Posted May 19, 2011 Share Posted May 19, 2011 [quote name='CatherineM' timestamp='1305846548' post='2243698'] As someone who has gone through the embarrassment of using food stamps and the food bank, I can't imagine anyone using it who didn't need it. [/quote] I don't have to imagine it. I see it very, very often. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laudate_Dominum Posted May 19, 2011 Share Posted May 19, 2011 (edited) more power to them. whatever floats their boat. whatever blows their hair back. to each his own. whatever makes them happy. it's not like they're hurting anyone. who are we to judge? [i]insert cliches, ad infinitum[/i] . . . edit: eff Edited May 19, 2011 by Laudate_Dominum Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatherineM Posted May 19, 2011 Share Posted May 19, 2011 [quote name='Winchester' timestamp='1305847517' post='2243705'] I don't have to imagine it. I see it very, very often. [/quote] I'm not so naive to think that it doesn't happen. I guess I should have said that I couldn't imagine doing it myself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winchester Posted May 19, 2011 Share Posted May 19, 2011 [quote name='CatherineM' timestamp='1305848348' post='2243710'] I'm not so naive to think that it doesn't happen. I guess I should have said that I couldn't imagine doing it myself. [/quote] My combativeness took over. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laudate_Dominum Posted May 19, 2011 Share Posted May 19, 2011 Don't judge a book by its cover. Don't make a mountain out of a mole hill. Don't put the cart before the horse. A bird in the hand is worth two in a bush. Don't be useless as a pay toilet on a diarrehea ward, or silly as a goose. Beggars can't be choosers. He who pays the piper calls the tune. Etcetera... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kamiller42 Posted May 19, 2011 Share Posted May 19, 2011 The fact this happened in a heavy blue state does not surprise me. Welcome to the United States of Entitlements. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laudate_Dominum Posted May 20, 2011 Share Posted May 20, 2011 who are you to judge? dont be mean. we're all entitled to happiness and stuff. don't impose your beliefs on others. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OnlySunshine Posted May 20, 2011 Author Share Posted May 20, 2011 [quote name='MithLuin' timestamp='1305846678' post='2243701'] Sure it is. Public policy for social programs is everyone's business. Wishing we would just get rid of the program is a valid opinion, but hardly the only possible reaction. Basically, it's a loophole. Winning the lottery should make you ineligible. I imagine liquid assets would be more difficult to keep track of than income, but I'm sure some cutoff could be determined. But there's always going to be people who are questionably qualified. For instance, one of my students was explaining to me that while [i]technically[/i] she should be counted as her mother's dependent (and thus wouldn't qualify), she can get food stamps in her own name (and does). As this young woman is also a single mother, I'm not really all that concerned with her attempts to bend the system. I did explain to her that food stamps are meant to be temporary, and you shouldn't be afraid to let them go when you got to a point where you no longer needed them. She seemed to understand that. Basically, the system is going to be abused as long as they're giving out free stuff. Some attempt to cut the dead weight so that the resources go to those who need it should always be made. [/quote] iawtc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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