What is an Intentional Program Violation?

Public assistance benefits provide help to thousands of people in Massachusetts everyday. The state is constantly on the lookout for individuals who are claiming these benefits under false pretenses. This intentional misrepresentation, concealment, or withholding of information in order to obtain benefits is known as intentional program violation (IPV). It is also known as welfare fraud and public benefits program fraud.

Massachusetts Public Assistance Overview

Massachusetts is a leader when it comes to public assistance benefits. The Bay State has a number of benefits to help those who are struggling, including food assistance, economic assistance, and the EBT card to culture program. 

Food Assistance

The food assistance program in Massachusetts is called the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). SNAP is designed to help beneficiaries afford food, increase their healthy food budget, and provide opportunities to improve their wellbeing. SNAP benefits include:

• Monthly funds on an EBT card to buy food.
• $40, $60, or $80 a month put back on your EBT card when you use SNAP to buy local produce via the Healthy Incentives Program (HIP).
• SNAP Path to Work free education and training opportunities.
• Free nutrition education classes and resources.

As you can see, Massachusetts has an extremely comprehensive food assistance program, capable of helping its residents stay fed and healthy even when they are struggling. 

Economic Assistance

The Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) administers economic assistance in Massachusetts through the Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children (TAFDC) and Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled and Children (EAEDC) programs. The benefits one can receive through these programs include:

• Case management to help beneficiaries reach their goals.
• Monthly cash payments to help pay for any necessities such as housing, utilities, and clothing.
• Health insurance.
• Education, training, and employment opportunities.

These benefits can make all the difference to Massachusetts residents who are struggling financially. 

EBT Card to Culture

This program is provided by a partnership between the Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) and the Mass Cultural Council. The EBT Card to Culture offers discounted admissions to a number of museums and cultural institutions in Massachusetts. This allows residents to experience everything the Bay State has to offer, regardless of their financial status. Those wishing to take advantage of these discounts just have to present their EBT card when purchasing admission to participating museums or institutions. 

How Are Benefit Frauds Caught?

Whether or not you qualify for benefits is determined by your income. Most people guilty of committing intentional program violation do so by lying about their income. This is done by either reporting income as lower than it actually is or not reporting it at all. 

The DTA detects discrepancies in income reporting using Social Security Number (SSN) matches with the Department of Revenue, Registry of Motor Vehicles, banks and other financial institutions, the Department of Correction, and other state and federal agencies. When someone’s income is found to not match what they are claiming and they are receiving benefits, they will be charged with intentional program violation. 

What Happens When You Are Accused of Welfare Fraud?

When you are accused of welfare fraud, you will first learn about it when you are contacted by the Bureau of Special Investigations (BSI).  This contact will come in the form of an official letter, usually titled “Opportunity to Interview for Civil Recovery Disposition”. The letter will ask you to meet with the BSI for an interview regarding suspicion of fraud. While you are not legally required to attend the interview, that does not mean you can completely ignore this letter. The BSI does not open investigations without evidence, and you should treat this situation seriously, as it can lead to criminal charges. 

Criminal Penalties for Welfare Fraud

If you are found guilty of welfare fraud, you do not simply stop receiving benefits. The penalties are often harsh and can include:

• Paying back any benefits you falsely received as restitution. 
• Being fined a substantial amount, depending on the amount of benefits fraudulently received.
• Jail time for extreme cases of fraud.
• Being disqualified from receiving any future benefits. This can be for a specified amount of time or permanently.

These penalties show how seriously Massachusetts takes welfare fraud. You could receive just one of these penalties, a combination of them, or all of them, depending on how severe the fraud is found to be.

Have You Been Accused of IPV?

If you have been accused of IPV, you should not hesitate. The best thing you can do is obtain legal representation immediately. Your attorney can respond to the BSI for you and begin working on your defense. The sooner you have legal representation, the better your chances of avoiding any serious legal penalties.

 

Disclaimer

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