US man wins $2M lottery - still on foodstamps - GoFuckYourself.com

SmokeyTheBear · 05-20-2011, 07:10 AM

http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_locald...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.

woj · 05-20-2011, 07:25 AM

seems like a pretty easy loophole to fix, if you own more than $XXXX in assets you can't apply, I think that's actually how it works in most states...

marketsmart · 05-20-2011, 07:28 AM

I blame Obama & Osama......

.

L-Pink · 05-20-2011, 07:29 AM

So the money is in a non interest bearing account? Even at 2.5% he would become ineligible as a single male.

Sly · 05-20-2011, 07:30 AM

That's a pretty strange loophole. So if a CEO of some company gets canned, he has $500,000 in the bank and a $500,000 house but decides to take a few years off of work... he can collect food stamps?

SmokeyTheBear · 05-20-2011, 07:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sly

That's a pretty strange loophole. So if a CEO of some company gets canned, he has $500,000 in the bank and a $500,000 house but decides to take a few years off of work... he can collect food stamps?

sounds like it...

L-Pink · 05-20-2011, 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sly

That's a pretty strange loophole. So if a CEO of some company gets canned, he has $500,000 in the bank and a $500,000 house but decides to take a few years off of work... he can collect food stamps?

If an executive has a half million in the bank I doubt he would be dumb enough to have zero gross income.

.

pornguy · 05-20-2011, 07:42 AM

Read that the other day and thought how sad that is that he is willing to screw the total for himself.

05-20-2011, 07:10 AM	#1
SmokeyTheBear ►SouthOfHeaven Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: PlanetEarth MyBoardRank: GerbilMaster My-Penis-Size: extralarge MyWeapon: Computer Posts: 28,609	US man wins $2M lottery - still on foodstamps http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_locald...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. __________________ hatisblack at yahoo.com

05-20-2011, 07:25 AM	#2
woj <&(©¿©)&> Industry Role: Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Chicago Posts: 47,882	seems like a pretty easy loophole to fix, if you own more than $XXXX in assets you can't apply, I think that's actually how it works in most states... __________________ Custom Software Development, email: woj#at#wojfun#.#com to discuss details or skype: wojl2000 or gchat: wojfun or telegram: wojl2000 Affiliate program tools: Hosted Galleries Manager Banner Manager Video Manager Wordpress Affiliate Plugin Pic/Movie of the Day Fansign Generator Zip Manager

05-20-2011, 07:30 AM	#5
Sly Let's do some business! Industry Role: Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 31,297	That's a pretty strange loophole. So if a CEO of some company gets canned, he has $500,000 in the bank and a $500,000 house but decides to take a few years off of work... he can collect food stamps? __________________ Vacares - Web Hosting, Domains, O365, Security & More - Paxum and BTC Accepted Windows VPS now available - 1st month free for GFY members - DM for details Wanted: CCBill pay sites for sale

05-20-2011, 07:42 AM	#8
pornguy Too lazy to set a custom title Industry Role: Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Homeless Posts: 62,911	Read that the other day and thought how sad that is that he is willing to screw the total for himself. __________________ PornGuy skype me pornguy_epic AmateurDough The Hottes Shemales online! TChicks.com \| Angeles Cid \| Mariana Cordoba \| MAILERS WELCOME!

05-20-2011, 07:28 AM	#3
marketsmart HOMICIDAL TROLL KILLER Industry Role: Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sunnybrook Institution for the Criminally Insane Posts: 20,419	I blame Obama & Osama...... .

05-20-2011, 07:29 AM	#4
L-Pink working on my tan Industry Role: Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Florida/Kentucky Posts: 39,151	So the money is in a non interest bearing account? Even at 2.5% he would become ineligible as a single male.