State announces major changes to prevent fraud
The Michigan Department of Human Services in April will change its policy for college students to qualify for the state’s Bridge Card food assistance program, changing it to a needs based requirement and curtailing an abuse of the system that lawmakers had been trying to change without prior success.
“Abuse of the Bridge Card system by people who have no financial need for it has been a major challenge because not only were some people scamming the system, it was also ultimately impacting the people that legitimately qualify, said Rep. Paul Opsommer, R-DeWitt. “Bridge Cards should provide healthy options for families in dire need, they were not designed to be free handouts of taxpayer dollars to those who don’t truly need it. I’ve talked to many college students that were appalled at the actions of others on campus, and this was a needed step to make sure bad apples didn’t continue to cheat taxpayers.”
The state had been providing Bridge Cards to students based solely on their status as a student, regardless of proven need. DHS Director Maura Corrigan, who was appointed by Gov. Rick Snyder, announced today that the department will start following federal guidelines and no longer use student status as a key qualifying factor.
Abuse of the state’s welfare system was one of the reform initiatives the House Republicans said they would address as part of their Guiding Principles this term.