NEW CITY –  Benjamin Ruttner, 58, of 5 School Terrace n Monsey was arrested for allegedly bilking the federal government and the county out of $156,000 over five years.

Between November 2004 and November 2009, Ruttner illegally received more than $89,000 in federal Section 8 housing benefits. Between May 2006 and August 2009, he collected over $67,000 in food stamps and Medicaid benefits from the Rockland County Department of Social Services to which he was not entitled.

He gave officials bogus information when he applied for the programs.

Ruttner is charged with grand larceny in the second degree and welfare fraud in the second degree, both felonies.  If convicted, he faces 4 2/3 to 14 years in state prison.

He was arraigned with bail set at $100,000.