Section 290 — Social Security Act 2018: Offences: false statements, misleading, or attempting to mislead, to receive or continue to receive benefits

290 Offences: false statements, misleading, or attempting to mislead, to receive or continue to receive benefits (1) A person ( P ) commits an offence if— (a) P makes a statement knowing that it is false in a material particular; and (b) P’s statement— (i) is made for the purpose of receiving or continuing to receive an advantage (whether for P or another person); or (ii) results in P or another person receiving or continuing to receive an advantage. (2) A person ( P ) commits an offence if— (a) P wilfully does or says anything, or omits to do or say anything, for the purpose of misleading or attempting to mislead a person; and (b) P’s act, statement, or omission— (i) is done or made for the purpose of receiving or continuing to receive an advantage (whether for P or another person); or (ii) results in P or another person receiving or continuing to receive an advantage. (3) In this section, advantage means— (a) any benefit under this Act, Part 6 of the Veterans’ Support Act 2014, or Part 1 of the New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Act 2001; or (b) any exemption from an obligation under this Act; or (c) any payment from a Crown Bank Account in accordance with this Act; or (d) any entitlement card issued under regulations made under section 437 ; or (e) a more favourable means assessment under Part 6 (and all related provisions) of the Residential Care and Disability Support Services Act 2018 than P would otherwise have been entitled to; or (f) a more favourable means assessment under Part 8 (and all related provisions) of the Residential Care and Disability Support Services Act 2018 than P would otherwise have been entitled to. (4) A person who commits an offence under this section is liable on conviction to a penalty that is either or both: (a) imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months: (b) a fine not exceeding $5,000. (5) This section does not limit section 72 of the Residential Care and Disability Support Services Act 2018. Compare: 1964 No 136 s 127