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Amanda Clayton, a 24-year-old from Lincoln Park, Mich., 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.
This is such a painful story. This woman probably wishes she had never won. She became overwhelmed by this amount of money and reacted too quickly. Two homes that have probably lowered in value by 40% since she bought them. The state should have cut her off but she probably had not filed her taxes. However, as a republic, we have every right to question her poor judgement. She knew what she was doing. She needs to pay back what she consciously stole.