Possible abuse of an assistance payment program has local lawmakers asking the state to review the program's eligibility requirements.
TRAVERSE CITY -- It looks like a debit card and that's pretty much how it works with cash and food benefits added on a monthly basis. The Michigan Bridge Card is an assistance program through the Department of Human Services.
But lately there's some concern that the system is being abused.
"What we're seeing is that college students are signing up for it. The problem is that they're not using if to buy food or other necessities. We've heard complaints and rumors they're using it to buy cheap pop, empty it out take the returnables back and then go buy beer with it," says Representative Wayne Schmidt.
The problem is that you can't buy alcohol, tobacco, or non-food items with a Bridge Card. So, Representative Schmidt and Representative Kevin Elsenheimer are asking the state to review the program's eligibility requirements.
"We don't want people getting services when they don't need them because that just takes away from the truly less fortunate which is what this program is supposed to help," says Representative Schmidt.
When it comes to using a bridge card, there's two accounts one for cash assistance and one for food assistance which is what college students are eligible for.
"College students are eligible for food if they do not get a meal ticket from the dorm and they're living on their own....It could be up to $200 a month depending on their personal situation," says director of the Department of Humans Services for Grand Traverse and Leelanau Counties, Dawn McLaughlin.
McLaughlin says every Bridge Card application is based on individual factors. She says auditors monitor the cards to prevent abuse of the system and students are required to report any financial changes while using the card.
"Any changes in income level or if they stop going to college and then if they didn't report them, we'd be investigating that once we became away of that," says McLaughlin.
The state lawmakers are waiting on data from the Michigan Auditor General about possible abuses of the Bridge Card. They say that information will give them a better understanding of the program and ways to improve it.
