{"jurisdiction": "us-ny", "code": "penal", "section": "158.15", "citation": "Penal Law § 158.15", "heading": "Welfare fraud in the third degree", "text": ["§ 158.15 Welfare fraud in the third degree.", "A person is guilty of welfare fraud in the third degree when he or she commits a fraudulent welfare act and thereby takes or obtains public assistance benefits, and when the value of the public assistance benefits exceeds three thousand dollars.", "Welfare fraud in the third degree is a class D felony."], "official_source": "https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/PEN/158.15", "from_official_api": true, "plain_english": "A person commits third-degree welfare fraud by **committing a fraudulent welfare act and thereby taking public assistance benefits worth more than $3,000**. ★ It is a **class D felony**.", "in_force_on": "2026-05-31", "retrieved": "2026-09-27", "url": "https://elyphived.com/us-ny/penal/158.15", "publisher": "Elyphived LLC"}