The Michigan Lottery winner on food stamps caused plenty of outrage. However, now Amanda Clayton, who won a $1 million jackpot, has been cut off from Michigan's state food aid program.
It certainly seems unethical and unnecessary, to say the least, to continue receiving food stamps as a lottery winner. However, Amanda Clayton did not feel she had done anything wrong in continuing to use her Bridge Card to buy food.
The Department of Human Services may not feel the same way, though. Director Maura Corrigan said, "Under DHS policy, a recipient of food assistance benefits must notify the state within 10 days of any asset or income change. DHS relies on clients being forthcoming about their actual financial status. If they are not, and continue to accept benefits, they may face criminal investigation and be required to pay back those benefits."
It sounds like Clayton could possibly face criminal charges because she did not report her $1 million in lottery winnings to DHS. At the very least, she will likely have to pay back the benefits she has used since winning the money in September.
Oddly, Clayton is not the first Michigan lottery winner who has admitted to using food stamps, either. Two-million-dollar winner LeRoy Fick also admitted to staying on assistance after his giant win. Because of this, the state is working to close the loopholes that allow for something like this to happen.
What do you think about this? Should people who have plenty of money be able to take advantage of public assistance? Stories like these are what cause so much anger about assistance in the first place. It should be for people who truly need it and nobody else. Don't you agree?
Like this weird new article? See more by Kate James at Gather.com
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Comments: 12
No...only white people and Chinese should be cut off...Blacks and Latinos should keep on getting them...