New York Laws
Title 6 - Powers to Enforce Support
105 - Claim on Insurance.

§ 105. Claim on insurance. If a person, who has received public
assistance or care, shall die leaving insurance, and the estate of the
assured is named as beneficiary, or no beneficiary is named, the social
services official shall be entitled to a preferred claim to be paid out
of such insurance to the amount of the cost of such assistance and care,
and for funeral expenses not to exceed two hundred fifty dollars. If
the insured leaves a surviving spouse or children under the age of
twenty-one years who are, or are liable to become, public charges, the
social services official may, in his discretion, waive his claim to such
insurance or any part thereof to which he would otherwise be entitled.

Structure New York Laws