205.967.  Public assistance benefits, defined — obtaining benefits unlawfully, penalty — actions to recover. — 1.  As used in this section:

  (1)  "Public assistance benefits, programs and services" means anything of value, including money, food, food stamps, commodities, clothing, utilities, utilities payments, shelter, drugs and medicine, materials, goods, and any service, including institutional care, medical care, dental care, child care, psychiatric and psychological service, rehabilitation instruction, training, or counseling provided pursuant to chapters 198, 207, 208, 209, and 660, or benefits, programs, and services provided or administered by the department of social services;

  (2)  The term "person" means any individual or corporation who received any form of public assistance benefit in any manner for any reason.

  2.  Any person or corporation who obtains or attempts to obtain, or aids or abets any other person to obtain, by means of a willfully false statement or representation, or by willful concealment or failure to report any fact or event required to be reported by any law, regulation, or rule of this state or the United States, or by impersonation, collusion, or other fraudulent device, any public assistance benefits, programs, and services, shall be guilty of the crime of stealing as defined by section 570.030 and shall be punished as provided in section 570.030.

  3.  If at any time during the continuance of assistance to any person or corporation, the recipient thereof becomes possessed of any money, property, or income, from any source in any way or reason, it shall be the duty of the recipient to notify the person to whom that recipient's case is assigned, within ten days of the receipt of the money, income, or property, and that person may, after investigation, if required, cancel or modify the assistance payment in accordance with the circumstances.

  4.  In an action or proceeding for the recovery of public assistance benefits, programs, and services or criminal prosecution for illegal receipt thereof, paid to or received by an alleged ineligible recipient, person, or corporation, proof that the recipient, person, or corporation possesses or did possess property or income that does or would have rendered that person or corporation ineligible to receive such assistance shall be deemed prima facie evidence that such assistance was unlawfully received.

  5.  If during the life or on the death of any person, or during the life or at the dissolution of a corporation, it is found that the recipient was possessed of income or property in excess of the amount reported or ascertained at the time of granting assistance, and if it be shown that such assistance was obtained by an ineligible recipient, the total amount of the assistance may be recoverable by the director of the department of social services as a seventh class claim from the estate of the recipient or in an action brought against the recipient while living.