Students may find it harder to get assistance

LANSING (AP) -- Michigan college students will find it more difficult to receive taxpayer-supported food assistance when the state begins to enforce new federal guidelines this spring, a state official said Wednesday. Beginning in April, students must show a "true need" to reap benefits from the federal program, according to a release from Maura Corrigan, the director of the Michigan Department of Human Services. The Lansing State Journal reported that the majority of the 26,000 students receiving the assistance were getting it mostly because they were enrolled in college, without showing a financial need. Most can get up to $200 per month in aid. "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." Nearly 1.9 million Michigan residents are enrolled in the program. More than 805,000 are children, according to the Detroit Free Press. Monthly assistance is based on income, how many people are in their household and other criteria. Funds are made available on a Michigan Bridge Card, which like a debit card is swiped through electronic reader when buying groceries. Some state lawmakers have raised concerns about abuse of the Bridge Card system. "I have received reports from college students at MSU (Michigan State University) that professors tell students that you need to sign up for this stuff," Republican state Sen. Rick Jones told the State Journal. "A professor would say this is a benefit and something everyone is getting, and you should take advantage of it." Close to $5.2 million in food stamp fraud was uncovered in 2009, The Detroit News reported. The amount more than doubled fraud recorded during 2004. Theft from Michigan's food assistance program only is exceeded by day care and child care fraud. Published: Fri, Feb 11, 2011