N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. tit. 18, § 396.3 – Defenses.

(a) the person who received the notice of the lottery prize interception is not the person identified as owing and does not owe public assistance;
(b) all public assistance received within the previous 10 years has been repaid in full;
(c) the amount of public assistance received within the last 10 years and not repaid is less than the amount set forth in the notice;
(d) the amount of the prize was less than $600; and
(e) the amount intercepted was more than 50 percent of the prize.

The following defenses may be raised against the interception of all or a part of the lottery prize: