(a) The amount of assistance or benefits may be changed or cancelled at any time if the Commissioner for Children and Families or the Commissioner of Vermont Health Access finds that the recipient's circumstances have changed. Upon granting assistance or benefits the Department for Children and Families or the Department of Vermont Health Access shall inform the recipient that changes in his or her circumstances must be promptly reported to the Department.

(b) When on the death of a person receiving assistance it is found that the recipient possessed income or property in excess of that reported to the Department for Children and Families or the Department of Vermont Health Access, up to double the total amount of assistance in excess of that to which the recipient was lawfully entitled may be recovered by the Commissioner for Children and Families or the Commissioner of Vermont Health Access as a preferred claim from the estate of the recipient. The Commissioner for Children and Families or the Commissioner of Vermont Health Access shall calculate the amount of the recovery by applying the legal interest rate to the amount of excess recovery paid, except that the recovery shall be capped at double the excess assistance paid.

(c) When the Commissioner for Children and Families or the Commissioner of Vermont Health Access finds that a recipient of benefits received assistance in excess of that to which the recipient was lawfully entitled, because the recipient possessed income or property in excess of Department standards, the Commissioner for Children and Families or the Commissioner of Vermont Health Access may take actions to recover the overpayment.

(d) In the event of recovery, an amount may be retained by the Commissioner for Children and Families or the Commissioner of Vermont Health Access in a special fund for use in offsetting program expenses and an amount equivalent to the pro rata share to which the United States of America is equitably entitled shall be paid promptly to the appropriate federal agency. (Added 1967, No. 147, § 1; 1997, No. 155 (Adj. Sess.), § 20; amended 2005, No. 174 (Adj. Sess.), § 73; 2009, No. 156 (Adj. Sess.), § I.39.)