What must an Individual or household show to avoid penalties related to an IPV?

To avoid penalties related to an Intentional Program Violation (IPV), the individual or household must provide evidence of honest mistakes in paperwork. IPV indicates a willful act to deceive or misrepresent information to obtain benefits. If a person can demonstrate that any discrepancies in their paperwork were due to honest errors rather than an intent to defraud, they can mitigate or avoid penalties.

While the other factors such as proof of reporting changes or documentation of financial hardship can play important roles in the context of eligibility and compliance, they do not specifically address the need to counter allegations of intentional wrongdoing. Showing that mistakes were made without intent is crucial for defending against IPV claims. Consistency in benefit usage also does not directly relate to avoiding penalties for violations but may reflect other compliance aspects. Thus, proving that mistakes were honest is the key factor in this context.