Lansing — College students in Michigan will face stricter requirements for food stamp eligibility starting in April, the Michigan Department of Human Services announced today. According to state officials, college students qualify for the federal food assistance program only under very limited circumstances, such as caring for young children.
In a press release, department Director Maura D. Corrigan said that starting in April the state agency that administers the federal program will begin to enforce that federal policy.
"We're ready to extend a helping hand to any citizen who is truly in need — including college students who care for young children and are taking the right steps toward becoming self-sufficient," Corrigan said. "But those who don't meet federal guidelines won't be able to take advantage of what is meant to be a temporary safety net program."
Corrigan's comments suggested that college students who don't have true need have until now been taking advantage of the program.
A record number of Michigan residents have enrolled in the food assistance program in recent years. It now serves almost 1.9 million, an 85 percent increase since 2004. Benefits are determined based on income, household size and other criteria. The benefits are paid out monthly on a Michigan Bridge Card, which works like a debit card.
In 2009, investigations uncovered $5.17 million in food stamp fraud, more than double that in 2004. Since then, such fraud appears to have fallen. But with online applications easing the way for more households to receive benefits, lawmakers have clamored for restricting the program to prevent more fraud.
Food-stamp abuse makes up a third of detected welfare fraud in Michigan — largely because of the sheer volume of Michiganians on food assistance, state officials say — exceeded only by day care and child care reimbursements.
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