$2M Michigan lottery winner defends use of food stamps

[Guest guest]

Here is an example of abuse...

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, 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.

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 , R-Grand Ledge.

" What a waste of taxpayer money. "

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, " 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, " 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. "

--

Ortiz, MS, RD

*The FRUGAL Dietitian* <http://www.thefrugaldietitian.com>

Check out my blog: mixture of deals and nutrition

Join me on Facebook <http://www.facebook.com/TheFrugalDietitian?ref=ts>

* " Nutrition is a Science, Not an Opinion Survey " *