newjerseynewsroom.com

The Michigan Department of Human Services cut off a lottery winner who was still receiving state aid for food despite collecting a $1 million prize.

A local TV station broke the news that Amanda Clayton, who pocketed more than $500,000 after taxes and used that to pay cash for a new home and car, was using a Bridge card that allowed her to purchase $200 worth of groceries for free each month.

But after the story ran on Detroit’s WDIV TV, the state yanked Clayton’s benefits.

"Under DHS policy, a recipient of food assistance benefits must notify the state within 10 days of any asset or income change,” the state’s Department of Human Services said in a statement. “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.

“Michigan DHS does not currently have the ability to verify a person’s lottery winnings in determining benefit eligibility, but bills pending in the state legislature would require the Michigan Lottery to notify DHS of lottery winners. We fully support this proposed change. Our Office of Inspector General will continue to vigorously pursue any and all abuse and fraud in the welfare system."

Clayton, 24 of Lincoln Park, Mich., told a reporter from the TV station that she thought she was entitled to the benefit “because I’m not working.”

She added, “I mean it’s hard. I’m struggling.”

A friend of Clayton’s tipped off the TV station, whose reporter followed her around the supermarket filling her cart and paying with the Bridge card. The story got folks’ attention.

Michigan State Sen. Tonya Schuitmaker released a statement today, saying that “food assistance is meant as a safety net for families in need. Million-dollar lottery winners receiving food assistance is nothing more than fraudulent.”

As was reported on jobs.aol.com, Clayton wasn’t the first lottery winner in the state to be caught buying groceries with a Bridge card. A $2 million winner, Leroy Fick, purchased a new Audi convertible after collecting $850,000 after taxes, yet remained on public assistance.

WDIV reported that there are two bills pending in the state Legislature that would require lottery officials to give the names of winners to the Department of Human Services.

"I encourage my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to make sure that food stamps go to those individuals who truly need them,” Schuitmaker said, “and not to lottery winners.”

—JOE GREENE, NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM