Michigan woman still collecting food stamps after winning $1 million lottery
People love stories about someone winning the lottery and then giving the money away. They're less likely to feel fondly about Amanda Clayton, who won $1 million in the Michigan State Lottery but is still collecting food stamps.
"I thought that they would cut me off, but since they didn't, I thought maybe it was OK because I'm not working," Clayton, 24, told Local 4 news in Detroit.
Back in December, a woman in Washington State fell under scrutiny when it was revealed she was receiving state economic benefits even though she lives in a $1 million waterfront home on Lake Washington.
Clayton, who says she owns two homes and a new car, receives $200 a month in food assistance from the state-issued Michigan Bridge Card, which is meant to benefit lower-income residents in the nation's eigth most economically depressed state.
Twenty-five percent of Michigan's residents receive some form of food assistance from the state. The state's unemployment rate is 9.3 percent, more than a full point above the national average, but has dropped from a 10.4 percent peak in August.
And Clayton isn't embarrassed about living off the state even though she now finds herself in the nation's top tax bracket. "I mean I kinda do," Clayton told Local 4 when asked if she had a "right" to the government welfare.
She certainly doesn't the fit the mold of other lottery winners we have told you about here at the Sideshow, including the number of repeat winners of the Georgia State Lottery, many of whom chose to donate their initial winnings to charity or family members in need.
Clayton downplayed her wealth, saying she took the $1 million in a lump sump, which meant about half immediately went to taxes. "I feel that it's OK because I mean, I have no income and I have bills to pay," she said. "I have two houses."
Her story has already caught attention locally, where state Republican Rep. Dale Zorn has sponsored a bill preventing individuals like Clayton from taking state financial assistance.
"Public assistance should be given to those who are in need of public assistance, not those who have found riches," Zorn told Local 4. The bill, which has already passed the state House and has a sister bill in the Senate, would require the state to cross check the names of lottery winners over $1,000 to see if they are also receiving state financial benefits.
lottery winner on food stamps - YouTube
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Ok I know I am going to offend some people here but I am sorry, she deserves it! So I apologize in advance.
Are you ******* serious? This White Trash Whore, thinks that she can win a cool mil, and still take the taxpayers money? Are you serious! Don't try and downplay the money, "oh it was a little over half, because of the lump sum and the taxes". Lady you walked away with a little over a half mil, bought two houses, and a car. Not sure how much you have left, but it still should be enough. Oh you have bills to pay, well then maybe you should not have bought that second house, dumbass! Hope the car you bought was not that old Cavalier you had in the video, because if it was, you still should have more then plenty left.
They should make this dumbass *****, pay every cent back that she was given after she collected her money. Yeah now there is a loop hole, and now the government wants to do something about it. Um Hello, should something not have already been in place? Hope she does not keep getting anything, if she does. They need to fire everyone in office in the State, and start over.
Ok I am good now, carry on.....
Oops just noticed I spelled assistance wrong in the title, DOH!
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Originally Posted by Brainstorm
You guys just have no smypathy. This poor woman does not have a JOB. How will she survive. Maybe she should get free medical coverage too.
, you!
