The Associated Press is reporting that Amanda Clayton, the Lincoln Park woman who won a million bucks in the lottery in September, but continued to accept $200 per month in food assistance, has been cut off.
Meanwhile, on Wednesday Maura D. Corrigan, director of the state Department of Human Services, issued this statement: “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.
“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.”
That legislation was introduced after a Bay County man acknowledged last spring that he continued to get state food assistance after winning $2 million in the lottery. Under the Granholm administration that was perfectly legal.
