§ 20-76-403 - Application -- Fraud. - Arkansas Statutes

20-76-403. Application -- Fraud.

(a) The application for assistance shall contain a statement of the amount of both real and personal property in which the applicant has an interest and of all earned and unearned income which he or she may have at the time of the filing of the application and such other information as may be required by the Department of Human Services.

(b) Any assistance improperly paid shall be recoverable by the state as a debt due the state and, if applicable, the recipient shall be prosecuted under theft of public benefits, 5-36-202.

(c) (1) All assistance provided under this chapter shall be reconsidered by the department as frequently as the department deems necessary. The amount of assistance may be entirely withdrawn by the department if the department is advised that the recipient's circumstances have altered sufficiently to warrant such action.

(2) Whoever shall withhold information in a periodic reconsideration that may result in a recipient's assistance being changed or withdrawn shall be guilty of fraud. Any money paid after information has been withheld shall be recoverable as a debt due the state.

(d) The department shall forthwith close any recipient's open case upon a judicial or administrative determination that the individual recipient has committed fraud in order to receive transitional employment assistance benefits. The case shall remain closed and the recipient shall remain ineligible until all indebtedness to the department is repaid with interest.