Dept. of Human Services launches welfare myth busting campaign

Michigan’s poor economic situation has driven an unprecedented number of people to seek help paying bills and buying food — more than a quarter of state residents received help from a state welfare program in 2009.

The Michigan Dept. of Human Services warns that the “staggering” increase in need has been accompanied with an uptick in damaging myths about welfare. This month the agency, in coalition with 15 community and social services groups, announced a new statewide campaign to address myths about welfare.

“I want to caution Michigan residents from believing the myths they hear about welfare and those who ask for help,” DHS Director Ismeal Ahmed said last week, “Today, it is more likely than ever before that your relative, friend or neighbor collects one or more welfare benefits because of unemployment or home foreclosure.

Among the myths addressed:

Myth: Welfare recipients are a drain on the system.

Fact: The average family receiving assistance is a single parent with two children, who receive help for typically less than two years. The parent probably works part-time earning minimum wage. The family may live on $700 to $800 a month between part-time income and benefits. This places the family at about 50 percent of the federal poverty income guideline for a family of three of about $1,474 a month.

DHS also pointed out that food aid generates economic activity in communities when people use their Bridge cards at local stores or farmers markets.

Myth: Welfare is full of fraud and no one’s doing anything about it.

Fact: Clients who receive food assistance benefits are restricted to purchasing food and related products. The federal Government Accountability Office estimates that for every $1 in food stamps, about 1 cent is obtained fraudulently. Families with children receiving cash under the Family Independence Program (FIP) can spend the benefits as they choose. In fiscal year 2009, the MDHS’ Office of Inspector General expanded the department’s fraud prevention efforts. During that year, the office completed 5,214 recipient fraud investigations, in which agents identified fraud of $18.6 million and recouped $4.90 for ever $1 spent investigating fraud. The office was recognized by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as first in the Midwest region for new fraud claims established, fraud claims recouped, amount of fraud determined and total disqualifications.

Republican representatives in the Michigan House have claimed that fraud is a serious problem in the state’s food aid program and have introduced bills to require drug testing of food aid recipients.