$2M Michigan lottery winner defends use of food stamps

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."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_localdtw/20110518/ts_yblog_localdtw/2m-michigan-lottery-winner-defends-use-of-food-stamps

more democrat politics, huh...

Unbelievable, simply unbelievable. Some how not a bit surprising though. People often are greedy and or feel entitled or both, at least he reported his win but why does he not feel like an idiot?

If I had enough money to take care of myself (regardless of where it came from) I would be ashamed to take food stamps when those funds could go to others struggling.

Just because you can, doesn't mean you should

hello yellowrose my old friend, oops i better watch that old stuff....lolo

I agree, if he actually DOES have it in the bank already(sometimes its a lengthy process) he should not still be using money that others without anything could use instead


its different from state to state though, because here those liquid assets and any other are taken into account before you can receive assistance,,, those 'liquid' assets are actually expected to be used FIRST before applying for assistance

but it's his money, and he can do what he wants with it...including not spending it on food... is it not his right? liberals...

it is his money, and if he has it and chooses not to spend it, he can but he shouldnt be using it outside of the NEED it is set up for,, namely to support those who HAVE no means of support

but it's his right... sure can't discriminate now, that would be very unliberal...this is too funny... so now you why republicans want to cut down certain programs, but get called racist instead... not so racist now, is it?

no clue what you are on about , truly

welfare is set up to SUSTAIN people who have no means of sustaining themself

once there is another means to sustain oneself, they should not be receiving that assistance in place of someone else who DOESNT have such means

of course you don't have a clue, no liberal would admit to this, even tho they all know it all their fault... so no critical or logical thinking went into the development of this "social program"? sure seems like something slipped through the cracks, or they were smoking it?

I don't remember any rules regarding lotto winnings when I did foodstamps hopefully they will amend it.