Fresno St football players implicated in welfare fraud...

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<p>[College</a> football notes: Fresno State players implicated in fraud probe - latimes.com](<a href=“http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-college-football-notes-20110910,0,5078602.story]College”>http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-college-football-notes-20110910,0,5078602.story)</p>

<p>*College football notes: As many as two dozen players are implicated in a welfare fraud investigation involving a Social Services worker accused of filing for false benefits for them and others.</p>

<p>As many as two dozen Fresno State football players have been implicated in a welfare fraud investigation involving a county Department of Social Services worker accused of filing for false benefits for them and others, the Associated Press reported.</p>

<p>The social services eligibility specialist was arrested last month by an investigator with the Fresno County District Attorney’s office but has not been charged. University officials have declined to comment beyond a written statement, saying they don’t want to impede the investigation.*</p>

<p>But this makes me wonder…</p>

<p>Can those on football scholarships ever legally qualify for welfare? What if they have a spouse or child?</p>

<p>Also, can an EFC 0 football player get a Pell Grant? If not, why not?</p>

<p>I still haven’t heard a clear answer as to whether these kids can take out Stafford loans or not. Their scholarships do not meet COA.</p>

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<p>A recruited athlete with a 0 EFC is still eligible for Pell, which is an entitlement. The school may not award aid in excess of the COA, so if their athletic scholarship covers all other costs then they may not be able to take a Stafford loan. I remember reading somewhere that full time students generally won’t qualify for food stamps but there are some exceptions, and having a dependent is one of them, don’t know if they mean TANF or food stamps when they say “welfare”…I thought that term was obsolete! I believe that scholarships count as income though, so it probably depends on the level they’re awarded.</p>