Utah Welfare Fraud Attorney

When you need help and apply for welfare benefits, the last thing you need is to be accused of welfare fraud. Being charged with welfare fraud could jeopardize the opportunity for you to receive any other state assistance and will go on your record. You could be facing jail time and hefty fines you cannot afford. Let Weber Law help you get the benefits you need and keep your record clean!

WHAT IS WELFARE FRAUD?

In the state of Utah, welfare fraud can include filing a false claim for welfare, making a false statement such as underreporting income, failing to report all the people living in the home, or other assets and property owned, and failing to provide overpayments. If a person is giving false information, not reporting all of their income, or using someone else’s benefits in the state of Utah to obtain assistance, they are guilty of welfare fraud.

Providers can also be cited for welfare fraud if they, bill a client through state assistance for goods or services not provided, and/or falsifying a claim. If 

WHAT ARE THE PENALTIES?

There are a variety of penalties that a person found guilty of welfare fraud may face including being disqualified from participating in welfare programs.

Committing welfare fraud can have serious penalties including jail time and a large amount of fines. Welfare fraud can be charged as a misdemeanor or felony depending on the severity of the fraud. The penalties depend on how much you have allegedly claimed fraudulently; 

a.) If the value is or exceeds $5,000.00 it classified as a second degree felony, punishable by a fine of up to $10,000 and imprisonment of one to 15 years;

b.) If the value is or exceeds $1,500.00 but is less than $5,000.00 it is classified as a third degree felony, punishable by a fine of up to $5,000 and imprisonment for not more than five years;

c.) If the value is or exceeds $500.00 but is less than $1,500.00 it is classified as a class A misdemeanor and is punishable by a fine of up to $2,500.00 and imprisonment for not more than one year;

d.) If the value is less than $500.00 it is considered a class B misdemeanor, which is punishable by a fine of up to $1,000.00 and imprisonment of not more than six months. 

Each individual instance of public assistance fraud is used to calculate the penalty. So if you have been unknowingly committing welfare fraud for the last year, each time you used your benefits throughout the year will be calculated into your penalty. The amount can quickly add up and the penalty can quickly go from a class B misdemeanor to a third degree felony and you might not have had any idea that what you were doing was considered fraud.

HOW CAN YOU FIGHT A CHARGE OF WELFARE FRAUD?

If you have been charged with welfare fraud, Weber Law can help defend you against this charge. Defenses for welfare fraud can include if you were a victim of identity theft, there was a typo, you did not intend to commit welfare fraud, and many others. 

There are circumstances that might have created the illusion of fraud, like if your child only lives with you part time, a temporary increase of hours at your job, getting married and not realizing you had to report that, adding someone to your household, side jobs, like babysitting or delivery services that you do not report, or even just asking a relative to pick up groceries for you with your public assistance. You could have unknowingly committed a felony that carries jail time if you are convicted. 

Let Weber Law look at all the aspects of your case and come up with the best defense for you! We are comfortable and confident handling welfare fraud cases. We have experience winning these cases and getting you the benefits you need. Do not face this type of charge without an experienced lawyer by your side; it could have detrimental outcomes for you and your family. If you or anyone you know has been charged with welfare fraud in the state of Utah, call Weber Law today for a consultation and let us get you back on track.

• Utah Code § 76-8-1205, Public assistance fraud defined
• Utah Code § 76-8-1206, penalties for public assistance fraud
• Utah Code § 76-3-301, fines of individuals
• Utah Code § 76-3-204, misdemeanor conviction – term of imprisonment
• Utah Code § 76-3-203, Felony conviction—indeterminate term of imprisonment