The department may recover the amount of any public assistance obtained by any person who was not entitled thereto. If at any time during the continuance of assistance, the recipient thereof becomes possessed of any property or income in excess of the amount stated in the application, it shall be the duty of the recipient to notify the state department immediately of the receipt or possession of such property or income. Any assistance granted after the recipient has come into possession of such property or income in excess of eligibility standards, may be recovered by the state department.
On the death of a recipient who has received public assistance to which he was not entitled, or who has received public assistance in an amount greater than that to which he was entitled, by reason of possession or having come into possession of resources which he did not disclose to the department, or which had, or which acquired, a greater value than was disclosed, the total amount of such assistance paid to such recipient to which he was not entitled shall be allowed as a preferred claim against the estate of such recipient.