Over 3,500 Michigan lottery winners obtained public assistance in 2012 or were residing with individuals on welfare, food stamps and other types of aid, reported a state agency.

According to the Christian Science Monitor, the respective count is attributed to a law passed last year that required Michigan to match lottery winners of $1,000 and up with those getting public assistance.

Governor Rick Synder inked the deal after legislators found out about two cases where individuals used food stamps even though they won $700,000 and $850,000 lump sum prizes.

While the law had a requirement for an asset-based means evaluation built into it, the Department of Human resources head claimed that over 2,000 lottery winners still receive public aid due to the limitation of certain benefits.

Only 565 cases have been closed because of the law, which addressed a man that won $33,000 in the lotto, and was still receiving $1,000 per month in child care assistance, stated the site.

"With the match system, we can now identify substantial winnings, but the loopholes that allow lottery winners to continue to collect various benefits need to be closed, through amending state and federal law and policy," DHS Director Maura Corrigan stated.

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