State v. Farmer

We answer in the affirmative the following issue certified to us by the Court of Appeals:

Whether food stamps are "public assistance" for the purpose of charging a defendant with unlawfully obtaining assistance pursuant to RCW 74.08.331 and RCW 9A.56.030.

The facts are undisputed. Farmer applied for and received welfare benefits consisting of payments under the state assistance program for Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) and food stamp allotments. Thereafter Farmer accepted temporary employment. She did not report the income she received from this job although she was aware of…