Lottery winner on food stamps:

‘I thought maybe it was okay because I’m not working’


While most people have played the “if I had a million dollars I would ____ ” thought game, few fill that blank in with “stay on public assistance.”

Amanda Clayton, a 24-year-old from Lincoln Park, Michigan, is one of the few who does, and she is getting away with it. Clayton won $1 million from the Michigan State Lottery this fall, but she is still collecting and using $200 a month in food assistance from the taxpayers with her Michigan Bridge Card.

“I thought that they would cut me off, but since they didn’t, I thought maybe it was okay because I’m not working,” the lottery winner who just purchased a new house and car told Local 4 in Detroit. The station even filmed her shamelessly purchasing goods.

When Local 4 asked if she felt she had a right to the money, Clayton responded, “I mean I kinda do.”

Clayton justified the sentiment by explaining that after taking her winnings in a lump sum and having to pay taxes, the total amount was just over half of the initial winnings.

“I feel that it’s okay because I mean, I have no income and I have bills to pay,” she said. “I have two houses.”

Watch Local 4 confront Clayton:

A bill to prevent this type of behavior, sponsored by state Republican Rep. Dale Zorn has passed the state House, as has a companion bill in the state Senate.

“Public assistance should be given to those who are in need of public assistance, not those who have found riches,” said Zorn, who has sponsored a bill requiring the state to cross-check the names of lottery winners of prizes over $1,000 with names of individuals on the dole.

Until Clayton is cut off, however, she says she intends to continue to use her benefits.

Lottery winner on food stamps:

“I feel that it’s okay because I mean, I have no income and I have bills to pay,” she said. “I have two houses.”

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You will have to excuse me ... I do not feel sorry for her at all.

What's classic welfare that created by Reagan in 1980's.

Foxrac said:

What's classic welfare that created by Reagan in 1980's.

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For people who need it. Somehow, I don't think it was meant for lottery winners.

Steinhauer said:

For people who need it. Somehow, I don't think it was meant for lottery winners.

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Or people who CAN work and choose not too. It's amazing how many people are unable to work yet they can spend hours and hours with their hobby

It's as if she is stubbing her nose at the government....not an ounce of empathy in her....Greed...pure and simple!

My hopes that she will have to pay the government back, with interest also. There are many, many more people out there who think the same way as she does....people that come into an inheritance, etc.

Feel there should be a major crack-down on these types of people....even jail time, taking away their winnings/inheritances....and cutting them off from government assistance.....

Two houses and on welfare!!??!! something wrong with this picture.

TXgolfer said:

Or people who CAN work and choose not too. It's amazing how many people are unable to work yet they can spend hours and hours with their hobby

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That's capitalism for you and Americans are free to work or not work. They can alternatively collect money from gambling, lotteries, sell drugs on street (thanks to notorious drug wars). How great is capitalism!

Don't blame on certain people because they couldn't find a job due to condition of economic, especially my sister has no job for 1 year after submitted over hundreds of application and have hundred of job interview that no one want hire her. She has clean background and never use drugs in her life.

That's not capitalism. It's socialism. I can't believe the way people feel they are entitled to their fellow taxpayer's funds.

Grayma said:

That's not capitalism. It's socialism. I can't believe the way people feel they are entitled to their fellow taxpayer's funds.

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No, USA isn't socialism and socialist believe that everyone, not all get a job due to strong pro-workers in socialist countries. Our economy system is capitalism or free market if you prefer to say, anybody is free to whatever with their life. Offer welfare plan is uncommon in strong capitalism countries and they are usually reserved for poor and disadvantaged people, however sometime, the welfare system is broken so it means rich people could use it.

Having welfare plan isn't make our country more socialism and it is still at least.

No, it's just plain wrong and should be illegal! Two houses and a car, over $500,000 and still getting food stamps? What's wrong with this picture? Somebody cut her off! When she reported the income to the government which is required by law when you win a large lottery amount they should have caught on. Maybe it will in time. She may be required to pay back some cash to the IRS! Only in America!

airportcop said:

No, it's just plain wrong and should be illegal! Two houses and a car, over $500,000 and still getting food stamps? What's wrong with this picture? Somebody cut her off! When she reported the income to the government which is required by law when you win a large lottery amount they should have caught on. Maybe it will in time. She may be required to pay back some cash to the IRS! Only in America!

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It is state issue and their welfare system is broken.

IRS has nothing with food stamp since they are regulated by USDA and state.

Lotteries are already taxed at 30% and she probably got less than $1 million now, probably $700,000 or less.

America isn't only country that collect income tax, most countries do.

Foxrac said:

That's capitalism for you and Americans are free to work or not work. They can alternatively collect money from gambling, lotteries, sell drugs on street (thanks to notorious drug wars). How great is capitalism!

Don't blame on certain people because they couldn't find a job due to condition of economic, especially my sister has no job for 1 year after submitted over hundreds of application and have hundred of job interview that no one want hire her. She has clean background and never use drugs in her life.

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No, what we are seeing is what happens under capitalism/Free markets when governments try to force social programs into the mix. And yes I DO blame people who are not working for not working, There are alot of jobs out there but people would rather sit at home and collect welfare or SSDI/SSI than take a job they don't like. I guarantee you there is a grocery store or fast food place hiring in the area....even in this economy.

Foxrac said:

It is state issue and their welfare system is broken.

IRS has nothing with food stamp since they are regulated by USDA and state.

Lotteries are already taxed at 30% and she probably got less than $1 million now, probably $700,000 or less.

America isn't only country that collect income tax, most countries do.

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Hey Foxrac,

The IRS gets the info that she won the lottery as well as her state! It is still income!

TXgolfer said:

No, what we are seeing is what happens under capitalism/Free markets when governments try to force social programs into the mix. And yes I DO blame people who are not working for not working, There are alot of jobs out there but people would rather sit at home and collect welfare or SSDI/SSI than take a job they don't like. I guarantee you there is a grocery store or fast food place hiring in the area....even in this economy.

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In my state you can substitute teach even without a college degree- you just need a high school diploma. My husband lost hsi job a month ago. He was called in to substitute teach every day for the last two weeks, and now they've hired him as a full time teacher's aid.

He also was offered a temporary job for six weeks, driving a truck locally, carrying fertilizer from plant to field. He didn't even need a trucker's license to do it.
With both the substitute job and the trucker job he was told that their biggest problem is finding reliable people. They call in substitutes who don't show up, and the man with the trucking job said the same thing- people don't show up. People just do not want to work. They just want to be paid for doing nothing.

Oh, the person my husband replaced in the special needs class failed a drug test.

TXgolfer said:

No, what we are seeing is what happens under capitalism/Free markets when governments try to force social programs into the mix. And yes I DO blame people who are not working for not working, There are alot of jobs out there but people would rather sit at home and collect welfare or SSDI/SSI than take a job they don't like. I guarantee you there is a grocery store or fast food place hiring in the area....even in this economy.

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Americans without disability and medical problems are ineligible for SSDI and SSI, and there is no welfare or free money for them, except for food stamp and Medicaid. SSI and SSDI have stricter criteria, however SSDI require work contribution. SSDI and SSI are not same. Unless you mention about unemployment benefits, of course and not know why they are continue to extended. Are you sure that unemployed prefer to sit than get a job? I don't agree with you because of situation with my sister and numerous job offers on newspaper is too good to be true because my sister tried but no luck. I doubt that everyone want Medicaid due to red tape and numerous paperwork.

It is ok for you to blame on people for not working but being blame won't help to make them goes work. They may have good reasons to not work, especially medical problems, take care of child, physical problems, can't find a job at all, etc. You need to be unemployed during sour economy and you will realize about how hard is find a job. Not everyone could catch a luck. The case with deaf people may be different because of discrimination, despite about ADA and costly lawsuit. I met one deaf man who worked at company for 17 years but he decided to resigned due to numerous discrimination from management and refused to have a communication with him. He has very little pay increase and he cannot be promote to management position. The manager abused him with many mistreatment during work. He got fed up with manager then left for good. He's on SSDI and he told me that he isn't going find a job soon in anytime because of traumatized from work discrimination. The lawsuit is so expensive and NAD doesn't have enough funds to have a lawsuit for many deaf people who suffered from discrimination so they only pick case that is more likely to win, like Netlix case. There are some deaf people don't want a job at all and they prefer to be lazy, however not all deaf people are like that.

In here, get a job at fast food and grocery stores are very hot battle so it is no guarantee if you could get a job. I know about there are plenty of people who are unemployed for year and they tried to look for jobs, even no luck. The relocation to other state isn't option if they have little or no money.

airportcop said:

Hey Foxrac,

The IRS gets the info that she won the lottery as well as her state! It is still income!

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I don't think that you understand my post.

I think that lottery is already taxed before you bring money home, just like work for company, not self-employed. $1 million is just gross income.

However, she will require to file for tax this year if win in 2011 or next year if win in 2012, no matters if it is already taxed.

Grayma said:

In my state you can substitute teach even without a college degree- you just need a high school diploma. My husband lost hsi job a month ago. He was called in to substitute teach every day for the last two weeks, and now they've hired him as a full time teacher's aid.

He also was offered a temporary job for six weeks, driving a truck locally, carrying fertilizer from plant to field. He didn't even need a trucker's license to do it.
With both the substitute job and the trucker job he was told that their biggest problem is finding reliable people. They call in substitutes who don't show up, and the man with the trucking job said the same thing- people don't show up. People just do not want to work. They just want to be paid for doing nothing.

Oh, the person my husband replaced in the special needs class failed a drug test.

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For substitute teachers in our school district, you are required to have a associate degree from junior college or community college and state license to teach.

Foxrac said:

For substitute teachers in our school district, you are required to have a associate degree from junior college or community college and state license to teach.

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I have a bachelor's degree but I wasn't allowed to apply as a substitute interpreter for public schools without passing the teacher's PRAXIS test. That doesn't make sense because I wasn't going to be a teacher.

Reba said:

I have a bachelor's degree but I wasn't allowed to apply as a substitute interpreter for public schools without passing the teacher's PRAXIS test. That doesn't make sense because I wasn't going to be a teacher.

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Wow, not good.

Teacher and interpreter are not same position, IMO.