Division of Family and Economic Security, Bureau of Working Families

Emergency Assistance Manual

8.1.1 Intentional Program VIolation (IPV) Overview

An Intentional Program Violation (IPV)Intentionally making a false or misleading statement, intentionally misrepresenting or withholding facts, or intentionally committing any act that constitutes a violation of state or federal law for the purpose of receiving EA benefits. means that an individual did any of the following for the purpose of establishing, using, maintaining, increasing, receiving, transferring, or trafficking Emergency Assistance (EA) benefits:

  • Intentionally made a false or misleading statement;
  • Intentionally misrepresented or withheld facts; or
  • Intentionally committed any act that constitutes a violation of state or federal law.

In order to impose an IPV penalty, the IPV must have been committed on or after November 1, 2012. 

The receipt of payments or services is not a requirement for imposing an IPV penalty. If an individual commits an IPV during the application process and prior to eligibility determination, the agency can still impose an IPV penalty.

Examples of IPVs may include, but are not limited to:

  • Concealing or intentionally not reporting unearned income or assets;
  • Concealing or intentionally not reporting employment;
  • Intentionally hiding or not disclosing non-Wisconsin residency;
  • Intentionally submitting documentation that has been knowingly forged or tampered with; or
  • Intentionally submitting false information.