Willig v. State, Department of Health & Welfare

JOHNSON, Justice.

This is a welfare benefits case. We conclude that the claimant did not prove the necessary elements of equitable or quasi es-toppel to prevent the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (IDHW) from collecting an overpayment of welfare benefits which was attributable to IDHW’s error. Therefore, we do not address whether estoppel may ever be applied against IDHW in these circumstances.

I

THE BACKGROUND AND PRIOR PROCEEDINGS.

In June 1991, Delores Willig applied to IDHW for Aid to Families with Dependent Children benefits (AFDC benefits) for her two orphaned granddaughters (the…