720 ILCS 5/17-6 – State Benefits Fraud
This law makes it illegal to lie or use fake information to get money or benefits from the State of Illinois.
This statute says that it’s a crime to give false information or documents to get state benefits or money. It also explains how law enforcement can use benefits applications to investigate fraud and what the punishment can be depending on how much money was taken.
(a) A person commits state benefits fraud if they purposely lie about things like their age, job, income, or family situation, or if they use fake ID documents to get, or try to get, money or benefits from Illinois state programs or local governments.
(b) Any application or paperwork given to a state or local agency to get benefits must be available to law enforcement if requested. Police can use these documents to investigate or prosecute fraud or crimes connected to it. The information can only be used for those investigations and must follow federal rules when needed.
(c) Any state or local government worker can take and keep fake or false documents as evidence if the documents are used to apply for or receive benefits or money from a state program.
(d) Sentence:
- State Benefits Fraud is usually a Class 4 felony. If more than $300 is taken, it becomes a Class 3 felony.
- If someone pretends to be a veteran or a veteran’s dependent to get special state benefits, the crime is a Class 3 felony when $300 or less is taken and a Class 2 felony if more than $300 is taken. These benefits include things like education help, job support, housing assistance, or other veteran-related programs.
Contact us online or call (314) 900-HELP to talk with a Southern Illinois criminal defense lawyer.
