{"jurisdiction": "us-ny", "code": "penal", "section": "158.05", "citation": "Penal Law § 158.05", "heading": "Welfare fraud in the fifth degree", "text": ["§ 158.05 Welfare fraud in the fifth degree.", "A person is guilty of welfare fraud in the fifth degree when he or she commits a fraudulent welfare act and thereby takes or obtains public assistance benefits.", "Welfare fraud in the fifth degree is a class A misdemeanor."], "official_source": "https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/PEN/158.05", "from_official_api": true, "plain_english": "A person commits fifth-degree welfare fraud by **committing a fraudulent welfare act and thereby taking public assistance benefits**. ★ It is a **class A misdemeanor**.", "in_force_on": "2026-05-31", "retrieved": "2026-09-27", "url": "https://elyphived.com/us-ny/penal/158.05", "publisher": "Elyphived LLC"}