Stevens v. Department of Social Services

In these consolidated appeals we are called upon to determine whether proceeds received by petitioners, Native Americans, from their tribe’s casino gaming revenue should be considered income for purposes of computing their eligibility for federal assistance programs. In both cases the Department of Social Services (DSS) hearing referees’ decisions to include the revenue as income were affirmed by the circuit courts. We also affirm.

Both petitioners contest the inclusion of gaming revenue as income in determining their eligibility for aid for families with dependent children (ADC) benefits and…