Utah Code § 35A-8 § 35A-8-410
Penalties for fraudulently obtaining or continuing to receive housing assistance benefits.
Operative Text
Penalties for fraudulently obtaining or continuing to receive housing assistance benefits. (1) A person may not knowingly, by misrepresentation, impersonation, or other fraudulent means, make a false statement to housing authority personnel or, after being accepted as a recipient of housing authority benefits, fail to disclose to housing authority personnel any: (a) change in household composition; (b) employment change; (c) change in marital status; (d) receipt of any other monetary assistance; (e) receipt of in-kind gifts; or (f) other material fact or change in circumstances that would affect the determination of that person's eligibility to receive housing assistance benefits, or would affect the amount of benefits for which the person is eligible. (2) A person may not fail to disclose any of the information described in Subsection (1) for the purpose of obtaining or continuing to receive funds or other housing assistance benefits to which the person is not entitled, or in an amount larger than that to which the person is entitled. (3) A person who has duties relating to the administration of a housing authority program may not fraudulently misappropriate funds or other assistance with which the person has been entrusted, or of which the person has gained possession by virtue of the person's position. (4) A person may not knowingly: (a) file or falsify a claim, report, or document required by state or federal law, or provider agreement, to obtain or attempt to obtain unauthorized housing assistance benefits under this part; or (b) attempt to commit, or aid or abet the commission of, an act prohibited by this section. (5) The punishment for violation of a provision of this section by a housing assistance recipient is determined by the cumulative value of the money or other benefits the person received from all instances of fraud committed by the person, and not by each separate instance of fraud. (6) The punishment for the offenses of this section are: (a) a second degree felony if the value of the funds or other benefits received, misappropriated, claimed, or applied for, is equal to or exceeds $5,000; (b) a third degree felony if the value of the funds or other benefits received, misappropriated, claimed, or applied for, is equal to or greater than $1,500 but less than $5,000; (c) a class A misdemeanor if the value of the funds or other benefits received, misappropriated, claimed, or applied for, is equal to or greater than $500 but less than $1,500; or (d) a class B misdemeanor if the value of the funds or other benefits received, misappropriated, claimed, or applied for, is less than $500.
Utah Code Ann. § 35A-8-410 prohibits anyone from using misrepresentation, impersonation, or other fraudulent means to obtain or continue receiving housing assistance benefits they are not entitled to. This includes failing to report changes in household composition, employment, marital status, or other income to housing authority personnel. The law also covers housing program administrators who misappropriate funds, and it grades criminal penalties based on the total cumulative value of benefits fraudulently obtained — ranging from a class B misdemeanor for amounts under $500 up to a second degree felony for amounts of $5,000 or more.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Housing authority administrators and program operators subject to § 35A-8-410 are generally expected to maintain accurate records of participant-reported changes and to promptly report suspected fraud to the appropriate housing authority. Compliant program staff do not misappropriate funds or assistance entrusted to them by virtue of their administrative role. Operators typically establish clear disclosure procedures so that recipients understand their ongoing obligation to report changes in household composition, income, employment, and other material circumstances.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under § 35A-8-410, housing assistance recipients have an ongoing legal obligation to disclose changes in household composition, employment, marital status, receipt of other monetary assistance, in-kind gifts, and any other material change that could affect their eligibility or benefit amount. Failure to make these disclosures — even without an affirmative false statement — can result in criminal charges, with penalties scaled to the total value of benefits improperly received. Tenants who believe they have inadvertently failed to report a required change may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid provider to understand the disclosure process and their options.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 16, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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