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Bridge card applications increase in Isabella DHS; most students do not abuse system

By Emily Grove on October 4, 2010 6:00 am in Isabella County / 10 comments

 

Isabella County saw a dramatic increase in the number of applications for bridge cards from July to August.

In July, there were 1,313 applications for the governmental food assistance program and 2,135 in August — an increase of about 62 percent.

Mark Stevens, director of the Isabella and Midland Department of Human Services, said the increase is typical for August and the spike in numbers is partly attributed to Central Michigan University students.

“The supplemental nutrition assistance program numbers have gone up dramatically,” he said. “We know it’s related to students return to campus.”

Although the surge in numbers is common in August, this year was especially high with numbers more than doubling from August 2009.

This trend has been seen throughout the state. There was a 30 percent increase in the case load of people receiving food assistance in Michigan since this time last year, according to the Michigan League for Human Services’ Economic Security Bulletin.

The bulletin also shows that 18.1 percent of Michigan’s population receives food assistance, bringing the second quarter numbers up to 885,070 caseloads.

“Students are part of the reason our bridge card numbers go up,” Stevens said. “But also because more and more people are needing help.”

Delton senior Nicole Marzic is a student who appreciates the help since she exclusively pays for her education.

Marzick has had a bridge card for about three years. After being taken off her parents insurance, she applied for Medicaid and was told by her caseworker about the bridge card program.

Since she qualified for state insurance, she also qualified for the bridge card.

“If I didn’t have the bridge card, I wouldn’t eat,” Nicole Marzick said. “I mean I’d eat, but it’d be all ramen and no fruits or vegetables. It wouldn’t be healthy.”

Milford sophomore Nick Haller also relies heavily on his bridge card.

“My bridge card is so essential because groceries are expensive,” he said. “Buying groceries can cost just as much as rent.”

The bridge card application process can take months, but Marzick and Haller both received theirs in less than three weeks.

Though student reliance on bridge cards has recently come under fire, Stevens said in the majority of cases no abuse occurs. Not just students but people of all kinds abuse the system and there is an office established to investigate that, he said.

Stevens does not anticipate the large numbers will be decreasing anytime soon.

“We expect September to be just as busy,” he said, “if not busier.”

 

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  • student

    This is the biggest joke I have ever heard. While I am sure there are students who actually need this money. The Majority of students DO take advantage of the system. I know people who drive brand new cars and have the latest phone, but still manage to get $300 a month on a bridge card. I know multiple people who take advantage of the system, yet can not name one who really need it. I've heard girls talk about how their parents pay all their bills and how they don't have any income (because they are too lazy to work) so they qualify for a bridge card, and brag about how they eat steaks every week. I can't imagine taking advantage of the system it is such a low thing to do.

  • Taxes

    Once you learn how poorly your tax money is spent, you won't feel bad.

  • Dbt820

    can students get bridge cards even if their parents claim them on their income tax?

  • Attyh

    I personally know of many students who come from wealthy homes, drive good cars, parents pay for all their tuition and housing and they get bridge cards. This government give away is a farce. Also a farce are the students and parents who participate in this drain on the welfare system. There seems to be no pride in people anymore. If any state worker wants specific information, it is not hard to obtain to stop this scam.

  • Really?

    What about students who work full-time and go to school? Those who fully support themselves outside of government assistance. Do you know how frustrating it is to hear students talk about HOW they abuse the card and laugh? Especially when there are so many of us who work so hard. How do they tell if students are 'abusing' the system? While there are many students who may not abuse the system I don't believe Stevens' sweeping generalization to be true.
    Do they keep track of students who use the Bridge card for food and spend the cash they do have on alcohol and bar tabs? Do they keep track of the kids who haven't learned how to save the money they don't have to spend on groceries because of the bridge card?
    It's about responsible spending/saving/educated purchasing decisions not handouts-

  • Is Glen Beck a terrorist?

    If you know of people abusing it, report them.

    “To report food assistance fraud by phone call: 1-800-222-8558″
    Source: http://www.michigan.gov/dhs/0,1607,7-124-5458_7701_7851-20383–,00.html

  • destitute central grad

    This is disgusting…as a CMU grad with a young child, trying to find a job that justifies me even paying to attend college in the first place, it is scary to me that single students with no families to support can get a bridge card in 3 weeks. I've recently had to resort to applying for food benefits to feed my child while I get turned down for one minimum wage job after another, and it's taken months with no help yet.
    Compared to now, I feel like I was WEALTHY in college with just a part-time minimum wage job and only having to worry about my own groceries, rent, etc. I cannot think of a circumstance where an able-bodied, able-minded single 20yo should qualify for government assistance for food. Work through college like the rest of us had to, take out student loans if you don't have parental assistance, like the rest of us had to, and don't take gov't welfare out of the mouths of needy Michigan children. People have no shame anymore. :/

  • Kricket

    I am a full time student i pay all my bills rent, heat, insurence etc. I work very little because i go to school about 12 hours a week. School to me is my work, its my #1 priority. I qualify for the bridge card, and i use it. I would honestly rather have people in my situation, young people who go to school trying to better their lives, and who eventually will not need government assitance reaping the benifits. Why should middle age, people who have made nothing but bad choices in their lives. Ex: having kids too early and who will probably be on them their entire lives get them? Upon graduation i will be going to a job everyday and pay taxes that will hopefully go to government programs that support people like me. Not lifetime welfare cases.

  • Emily Grove

    Hello name twin!

    Emily Grove

  • Student

    There may be those that abuse the system who don't need it because they have mommy/daddy money. But there are those that do not have parental assistance who need it. Should those who really need it be punished because there are those that abuse it? That is unfair. I'm a full time student, am taking 13 credits this semester and am working part time to cover rent and bills and food. I am going to apply for the bridge card because I need to be able to save some money for after I graduate next year. Next semester I will be taking 19 credits and will have limited time to work and so I will definitely need help paying for food. Please don't tell me that I don't deserve it. Yes, the struggling single mother that commented earlier deserves it too, but because she has children to support does not mean that I should starve.