Michigan could save at least $4 million a year because of changes to the Michigan Bridge Card, a taxpayer-funded food assistance program that some legislators, including State Rep. Joe Haveman (R-Holland), claim college students have been abusing.
“College kids are not the client that was intended for Bridge Cards,” Haveman said. “For a traditional college student coming out of a middle class family, their parents are their support system.”
The current Bridge Card application policy, which will be altered in April, required applicants to provide information about their earned and unearned income and household expenses to the Michigan Department of Human Services (DHS). Depending on those factors, DHS can allot a monthly food stipend of up to $200.
About 1.9 million Michigan residents have Bridge Cards, DHS reported. Most beneficiaries are low-income families and the unemployed. But due in part to their jobless status, between 18,000 and 20,000 college students qualified in 2010, according to DHS spokesperson Christina Fecher.
“DHS has been following federal guidelines previous to this change,” Fecher said. “Our current administration requested, and received, federal approval to remove ‘attending college with an approved education plan’ as one of the exceptions that allow college students to receive food assistance.”
The current policy stipulates student applicants need only demonstrate that they are attending college with an approved education plan, allowing thousands of students to qualify. But after the changes in the application process are made, other factors—such as whether the applicant has a young child, or works at least 20 hours a week—should steer Bridge Cards toward intended recipients only.
Maura Corrigan, director of DHS, applauded the change.
“We’re ready to extend a helping hand to any citizen who is truly in need,” 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.”
DHS estimates thousands of students will have their benefits revoked after the new policy goes into effect.
In Ingham County, home to Michigan State University, about 4,000 students currently possess Bridge Cards. Senior Amy Sullivan, who received hers in the spring of 2010, said that while other students may be abusing the Bridge Card, she has been glad to have assistance paying the bills.
“I pay my tuition, rent, utilities, and car insurance, and the Bridge Card helps eliminate food expenses,” she said. “I know a handful of people whose parents pay for everything and they still have one, but I don’t even receive an allowance from my mom.”
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