If you are reading this article about lying on GA food stamp application, you probably fall into one of four categories of people:
- You have lied on your food stamp or other government assistance program application and have been contacted by authorities and would like to know what the penalties or punishments are.
- You are applying for food stamps or have applied for food stamps and have lied on your application.
- You know someone that has lied on their food stamps application and want to know what could happen to them if they get caught or what will happen to you if you are caught for helping them submit a false application.
- You are a concerned citizen and have heard about food stamps fraud in Georgia, specifically, people lying about their income and assets in order to receive benefits they are probably not entitled to.
Regardless of your reason for finding this article, we are going to answer your question. If you have witnessed Food Stamps fraud or are suspicious of fraudulent activity, you can report this to the authorities for investigation. See our detailed post on how to do that. Second, if you are in trouble with the law for EBT fraud, you should probably contact a criminal defense attorney. This is not an attorney website and we do not give legal advice.
Lying on GA Food Stamp Application
Lying on food stamps application is one of the major sources of fraud. The number one thing people lie about on their application is their income. When you apply for food stamps or renewing your benefits, the law requires that you fully disclose all household income – as shown in the Georgia Food Stamps application image below. Unfortunately, this is where some people try to cheat the system by not report all their personal income, neglecting to report income for other members of their household, or not reporting income for absent parent, or worse, not reporting that you are receiving food stamps benefits in another state.
Why You Should NOT lie on Food Stamps Application
While it may be tempting to lie on your food stamps application, don’t do it. You may think you can get away with it but anyone who finds out can report you to the authorities, and they can do so anonymously. Even people you trust – Your parents, siblings, cousins, friends, neighbors, ex, can call the authorities on you if they get mad at you. Don’t take that risk.
Possible Punishment for lying on GA food stamp application
Once your County or the state of Georgia finds that you lied on your food stamps application, they will conduct an investigation. Depending on how serious your crime is, you will face anything from probation and restitution (where you are required to pay back the benefits you received), you may be disqualified from receiving food stamps for 1 year to 10 years depending on the severity of your case, or you may face jail time as explained below:
Georgia for Food Stamp Fraud Penalties
If you are caught committing food stamp fraud as a benefit recipient, here are the penalties you could face:
- First time offenders are disqualified for one year (12 months).
- Second time offenders are disqualified for two years (24 months).
- Third time offenders are disqualified permanently.
In addition, an individual will be ineligible to participate in the Food Stamp Program for 10 years if the individual is found to have made a fraudulent statement or representation of identity or residence in order to receive multiple benefits simultaneously.
Legal Action
In more serious cases of fraud, the agency (whichever government agency investigated the case, whether Federal, State or County) may pursue misdemeanor or felony criminal charges. Jail time may range from up to one year in jail and a substantial fine for the first offense, to up to five years in prison, several years of probation or an even bigger fine for subsequent offenses. If you don’t believe this could happen to you, read about this Leon County woman arrested for lying on Medicaid and food stamp benefits.
I don’t understand why I am being red flagged.