Perjury for the purpose of obtaining public assistance
This law is about lying on a public assistance application. If someone knowingly gives false or misleading information to get public assistance, and they sign the paperwork along with a Missouri Department of Social Services worker, that is a crime. The lie does not have to be something a court would normally allow as evidence — it just has to be something that could affect whether the person gets benefits. It does not matter if the person thought the lie was unimportant. The punishment depends on how much money was involved or whether the person has done it before — it can be a misdemeanor or a felony.
Classifications stated in the statute. Actual outcomes vary.
570.408. for the purpose of obtaining — . — 1. A person commits the of perjury for the purpose of obtaining public assistance if he or she makes a false or misleading statement or misrepresents a fact for the purpose of obtaining public assistance if the false or misleading statement is and by the signature of the person making the statement and by the signature of any employee of the Missouri of social services. The same person may not be charged with receiving and perjury this section when both offenses arise from the same for benefits.
2. A statement or fact is material, regardless of its under , if it could substantially affect or did substantially affect the granting of public assistance.
3. Knowledge of the materiality of the statement or fact is not an , and it is no that:
(1) The person mistakenly believed the fact to be immaterial; or
(2) The person was not competent, for reasons other than mental , to make the statement.
4. The offense of perjury for the purpose of obtaining public assistance is a , unless the value of the public assistance unlawfully obtained or unlawfully attempted to be obtained is seven hundred fifty dollars or more, in which case it is a , or the person has previously been of two violations under sections 570.400 to 570.410, in which case it is a .
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Source & history notes
(L. 1987 S.B. 259 § 6, A.L. 2002 H.B. 1888, A.L. 2014 S.B. 491) Transferred 2014; formerly 578.385; Effective 1-01-17
Legal information, not legal advice. Always confirm with the official source at revisor.mo.gov.