(a) Any person, who by means of any false statement, willful misrepresentation or failure to notify the county department or the local governmental unit, as the case may be, of a change in his status as required by Sections 11-18 and 11-19, or any person who knowingly causes any applicant or recipient without knowledge to make such a false statement or willful misrepresentation, or by withholding information causes the applicant or recipient to fail to notify the county department or local governmental unit as required, for the purpose of preventing the denial, cancellation or suspension of any grant, or a variation in the amount thereof, or through other fraudulent device obtains or attempts to obtain, or aids or abets any person in obtaining public aid under this Code to which he is not entitled is guilty of a violation of this Article and shall be punished as provided in Section 8A-6.
     (b) If an applicant makes and subscribes an application form under Section 11-15 which contains a written declaration that it is made under penalties of perjury, knowing it to be false, incorrect or incomplete in respect to any material statement or representation bearing on his eligibility, income or resources, the offender shall be subject to the penalties for perjury as provided in Section 32-2 of the Criminal Code of 2012.