Where are the law makers when we need them? No wonder states are going bankrupt.
By coffeebreak
@coffeebreak (17798)
United States
May 19, 2011 9:18am CST
Read this and you will know a huge reason the states are going bankrupt...this is totally ludicrious and should not be allowed. Why are the law makers not doing anything about this? They bicker incessively about everything else, but let things like this just happen without recourse. They don't give a rats. This is disgusting. Yet many are still hungry and doing without cause their little income is to much to qualify, yet with high food prices and unemployment...they need help and can't get it and this guy doesn't even work and then is mad cause he had to pay taxes on the winnings....well where the heck does he think his food stamp money comes from!!! People that pay their taxes! Talk about a crime!
http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_localdtw/20110518/ts_yblog_localdtw/2m-michigan-lottery-winner-defends-use-of-food-stamps
1 person likes this
4 responses
@owlwings (43910)
• Cambridge, England
19 May 11
There are MANY laws with anomalies such as this (and not just in the US). I am surprised, quite frankly, that the law (which is a Federal law) did not take assets, especially liquid assets, into account from the word go. Why should a state have to apply for a waiver in order to have the law make sense?
Mr Fick has, apparently, acted perfectly legally. He informed the authorities and was told that he could go on using his benefits. Whether he is or not is not reported. I guess it would be morally responsible for him not to use it. Of course, if he invests the money, he will then have an income which will probably disqualify him next year.
I can see that someone in this position might well argue that the State has no right to tell him what to do with his money and, if he chooses to invest it, he still may not have the income from it for a year. If, for example, he had inherited a house worth $2m, would he be required to sell it?
@owlwings (43910)
• Cambridge, England
19 May 11
I don't, by the way, see where it says that he was annoyed at having to pay taxes on his winnings but, of course, the taxes he paid will likely have more than covered the amount he gained in food stamps (which is not to say that that makes it right, of course).
I notice in the comments another anomaly: that 'income' tax is collected by the IRS on the money (as if it were income - which it is, of course) and yet, when seen by the DHS it is a 'fixed asset'!
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
20 May 11
Yeah he reported it and did right. Nothing really against him, but at the same time...he doesn't need it so why take it from others? I saw on the news is where he said that he was mad for having to pay $250k in taxes of the million. Why should he not have to pay taxes on the income!We all do. I just think that something should be done...no it isn't a monthly earning but at the same time...food stamps are for the needy and he is no longer needy. If he does invest it..then that is his earnings and should be counted toward qualifying. Of course, he isn't going to invest it in anything other than buying things, so he lives high off the hog and tax payers support him. Just isnt right.
@zukichucha (991)
• United States
19 May 11
That is absolutely ridiculous! He definitely does not need those food stamps being that he is rich now. He should be ashamed of himself! I understand he informed the state. But when they told him he can continue to use them he should have asked for his case to be closed. How can he not have a guilty conscience? What a travesty!
@owlwings (43910)
• Cambridge, England
19 May 11
Perhaps, if he had asked for his eligibility to be closed, it would not have been newsworthy?
Some people do things in order to kick up a fuss (though I suspect that this wasn't this person's intention, exactly) and in order to get something done about it.
@sid556 (30960)
• United States
2 Jun 11
I heard about that. I really don't understand the food stamp program at all. I live in low income housing but I pay a pretty decent rent because I work full time. Actually 33% of all income goes toward my rent. If I work over-time...that gets included. My rent sometimes goes up even when my income doesn't. If the fuel costs go up...my rent goes up. My neighbors, many of whom are on welfare, do not get touched at all. I got a call a while back from someone at the welfare office. The woman said that she noticed that I was in housing and wanted to know if I'd be interested in getting food stamps. I told her that I was pretty sure that I didn't qualify. She did some calculations and I qualified to recieve 24.00 per month. I'm a single mom and I work in a convenience store. Now my store takes food stamps and on the reciept it shows the balance left on someones food stamps. I see single people who do not have kids and who work. One girl...I cash her check which is a decent pay and she gets over 200.00 per month. I think this guy should at least temporarily be cut off from food stamps but that is our government for you.
@my52cents (569)
• United States
19 May 11
Very interesting, especially that this is part of federal law. I hadn't seen this. Thanks for the interesting heads up.
