Apply the federal 110% poverty floor to state LIHEAP programs (DC, MA, MS, NJ, OR)

changelog.d/liheap-federal-fpg-floor.fixed.md

@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Apply the federal 110% poverty guideline floor to District of Columbia, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Jersey and Oregon LIHEAP income eligibility.

policyengine_us/parameters/gov/hhs/liheap/fpg_floor.yaml

@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+description: The US Department of Health and Human Services limits income-based exclusion to households with income of at least this percentage of the poverty guideline under the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.
+# Pub. L. 98-558, section 605(a)(2), added the floor for fiscal year 1986 and later.
+values:
+  1985-10-01: 1.1
+metadata:
+  period: year
+  unit: /1
+  label: LIHEAP poverty guideline income floor
+  reference:
+    - title: 42 U.S.C. 8624(b)(2)(B)
+      href: https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/42/8624#b_2_B

policyengine_us/parameters/gov/states/dc/doee/liheap/fpg_year_lag.yaml

@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+description: The District of Columbia uses the poverty guidelines from this many years before the model year for the federal income floor under the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.
+# HHS makes each January's guidelines mandatory for LIHEAP from the next
+# October 1, so model period 2024 (FY2024) uses the 2023 guidelines and 2026
+# (FY2026) the 2025 guidelines. The District's own limit uses state median
+# income.
+values:
+  2021-10-01: 1
+metadata:
+  unit: year
+  period: year
+  label: DC LIHEAP poverty guideline year lag
+  reference:
+    - title: LIHEAP Information Memoranda, annual poverty guideline memoranda
+      href: https://acf.gov/ocs/policy-guidance/liheap-information-memoranda
+    - title: LIHEAP IM 2023-01, poverty guidelines for optional use in FFY 2023 and mandatory use in FFY 2024
+      href: https://acf.gov/archive/ocs/policy-guidance/liheap-im-2023-01-federal-poverty-guidelines-optional-use-ffy-2023and
+    - title: LIHEAP IM 2025-02, Attachment 2, poverty guidelines for mandatory use in FY26
+      href: https://acf.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ocs/COMM_LIHEAP_IM2025-02_FPGSte-Table_Att2.pdf#page=1

policyengine_us/parameters/gov/states/ms/mdhs/liheap/fpg_year_lag.yaml

@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+description: Mississippi uses the poverty guidelines from this many years before the model year for the federal income floor under the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.
+# HHS makes each January's guidelines mandatory for LIHEAP from the next
+# October 1, so model period 2026 (FY2026) uses the 2025 guidelines and 2027
+# (FY2027) the 2026 guidelines. Mississippi's own limit uses state median income.
+values:
+  2025-10-01: 1
+metadata:
+  unit: year
+  period: year
+  label: Mississippi LIHEAP poverty guideline year lag
+  reference:
+    - title: LIHEAP IM 2025-02, Attachment 2, poverty guidelines for mandatory use in FY26
+      href: https://acf.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ocs/COMM_LIHEAP_IM2025-02_FPGSte-Table_Att2.pdf#page=1
+    - title: LIHEAP IM 2026-01, poverty guidelines for optional use in FY26 and mandatory use in FY27
+      href: https://acf.gov/ocs/policy-guidance/liheap-im2026-01-federal-poverty-guidelines-fpg-and-state-median-income-smi

policyengine_us/parameters/gov/states/nj/dca/liheap/eligibility/fpg_year_lag.yaml

@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+description: New Jersey uses the poverty guidelines from this many years before the model year for the federal income floor under the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.
+# HHS makes each January's guidelines mandatory for LIHEAP from the next
+# October 1, so model period 2024 (FY2024) uses the 2023 guidelines and 2026
+# (FY2026) the 2025 guidelines. New Jersey's own limit uses state median
+# income.
+values:
+  2021-10-01: 1
+metadata:
+  unit: year
+  period: year
+  label: New Jersey LIHEAP poverty guideline year lag
+  reference:
+    - title: LIHEAP Information Memoranda, annual poverty guideline memoranda
+      href: https://acf.gov/ocs/policy-guidance/liheap-information-memoranda
+    - title: LIHEAP IM 2023-01, poverty guidelines for optional use in FFY 2023 and mandatory use in FFY 2024
+      href: https://acf.gov/archive/ocs/policy-guidance/liheap-im-2023-01-federal-poverty-guidelines-optional-use-ffy-2023and
+    - title: LIHEAP IM 2025-02, Attachment 2, poverty guidelines for mandatory use in FY26
+      href: https://acf.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ocs/COMM_LIHEAP_IM2025-02_FPGSte-Table_Att2.pdf#page=1
+    - title: LIHEAP IM 2026-01, poverty guidelines for optional use in FY26 and mandatory use in FY27
+      href: https://acf.gov/ocs/policy-guidance/liheap-im2026-01-federal-poverty-guidelines-fpg-and-state-median-income-smi

policyengine_us/parameters/gov/states/or/ohcs/liheap/eligibility/fpg_year_lag.yaml

@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+description: Oregon uses the poverty guidelines from this many years before the model year for the federal income floor under the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.
+# HHS makes each January's guidelines mandatory for LIHEAP from the next
+# October 1, so model period 2025 (PY2025) uses the 2024 guidelines, 2026
+# (PY2026) the 2025 guidelines and 2027 (PY2027) the 2026 guidelines. Oregon's
+# own limit uses state median income.
+values:
+  2024-10-01: 1
+metadata:
+  unit: year
+  period: year
+  label: Oregon LIHEAP poverty guideline year lag
+  reference:
+    - title: LIHEAP IM 2024-02, Attachment 2, poverty guidelines for mandatory use in FY25
+      href: https://acf.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ocs/COMM_LIHEAP_IM%202024-02_Att2FPGTables_States.pdf#page=1
+    - title: LIHEAP IM 2025-02, Attachment 2, poverty guidelines for mandatory use in FY26
+      href: https://acf.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ocs/COMM_LIHEAP_IM2025-02_FPGSte-Table_Att2.pdf#page=1
+    - title: LIHEAP IM 2026-01, poverty guidelines for optional use in FY26 and mandatory use in FY27
+      href: https://acf.gov/ocs/policy-guidance/liheap-im2026-01-federal-poverty-guidelines-fpg-and-state-median-income-smi

policyengine_us/tests/policy/baseline/gov/states/dc/doee/liheap/dc_liheap_eligible.yaml

@@ -17,3 +17,44 @@
     state_code: DC
   output: 
     dc_liheap_eligible: false
+
+- name: Case 3, federal 110% poverty floor above the 60% state median income limit at size 36.
+  period: 2024
+  input:
+    state_code: [DC, DC, DC, DC, DC]
+    spm_unit_size: [36, 36, 36, 36, 35]
+    irs_gross_income: [212_000, 213_927.99, 213_928, 213_929, 210_000]
+  output:
+    # 42 U.S.C. 8624(b)(2)(B) bars excluding a household on income below 110%
+    # of the poverty guideline. FY2024 uses the 2023 guidelines (LIHEAP IM
+    # 2023-01): 14,580 + 5,140 x 35 = 194,480 for 36 people, and 110% is
+    # 213,928. The 60% SMI limit for 36 people is 212,669.78.
+    # Household 1 is below the 60% SMI limit: eligible.
+    # Household 2 is one cent below the floor: eligible.
+    # Household 3 is exactly at the floor, which is not below 110%: not eligible.
+    # Household 4 is above the floor: not eligible.
+    # Household 5 has 35 people, whose 209,795.87 limit exceeds the 208,274
+    # floor (110% of 189,340), so the limit still applies: not eligible.
+    dc_liheap_eligible: [true, true, false, false, false]
+
+- name: Case 4, the floor uses the poverty guidelines from the year before the model year.
+  period: 2024
+  input:
+    state_code: DC
+    spm_unit_size: 36
+    irs_gross_income: 215_000
+  output:
+    # FY2024 uses the 2023 guidelines, so the floor is 213,928. The 2024
+    # guidelines would give 110% x (15,060 + 5,380 x 35) = 223,696.
+    dc_liheap_eligible: false
+
+- name: Case 5, FY2023 uses the 2022 poverty guidelines for the floor.
+  period: 2023
+  input:
+    state_code: [DC, DC]
+    spm_unit_size: [39, 39]
+    irs_gross_income: [212_244.99, 212_245]
+  output:
+    # 110% x (13,590 + 4,720 x 38) = 212,245 for 39 people, above the
+    # 210,731.60 FY2023 60% SMI limit.
+    dc_liheap_eligible: [true, false]

policyengine_us/tests/policy/baseline/gov/states/ma/doer/liheap/eligibility/ma_liheap_income_eligible.yaml

@@ -27,3 +27,45 @@
   output:
     ma_liheap_income_eligible: true
     # hhs_smi: 119_895
+
+- name: Case 4, federal 110% poverty floor above the 60% state median income limit at size 34.
+  period: 2026
+  input:
+    state_code: [MA, MA, MA, MA, MA]
+    spm_unit_size: [34, 34, 34, 34, 33]
+    ma_liheap_income: [215_000, 216_864.99, 216_865, 216_866, 213_000]
+  output:
+    # 42 U.S.C. 8624(b)(2)(B) bars excluding a household on income below 110%
+    # of the poverty guideline. FY2026 uses the 2025 guidelines (LIHEAP IM
+    # 2025-02): 15,650 + 5,500 x 33 = 197,150 for 34 people, and 110% is
+    # 216,865. The 60% SMI limit for 34 people is 215,077.68.
+    # Household 1 is below the 60% SMI limit: eligible.
+    # Household 2 is one cent below the floor: eligible.
+    # Household 3 is exactly at the floor, which is not below 110%: not eligible.
+    # Household 4 is above the floor: not eligible.
+    # Household 5 has 33 people, whose 212,090.49 limit exceeds the 210,815
+    # floor (110% of 191,650), so the limit still applies: not eligible.
+    ma_liheap_income_eligible: [true, true, false, false, false]
+
+- name: Case 5, the floor uses the poverty guidelines from the year before the model year.
+  period: 2026
+  input:
+    state_code: MA
+    spm_unit_size: 34
+    ma_liheap_income: 220_000
+  output:
+    # FY2026 uses the 2025 guidelines, so the floor is 216,865. The 2026
+    # guidelines would give 110% x (15,960 + 5,680 x 33) = 223,740.
+    ma_liheap_income_eligible: false
+
+- name: Case 6, FY2025 uses the 2024 poverty guidelines for the floor.
+  period: 2025
+  input:
+    state_code: [MA, MA]
+    spm_unit_size: [32, 32]
+    ma_liheap_income: [200_023.99, 200_024]
+  output:
+    # LIHEAP IM 2024-02 makes the 2024 guidelines mandatory in FY2025:
+    # 110% x (15,060 + 5,380 x 31) = 200,024 for 32 people, above the
+    # 198,676.80 FY2025 60% SMI limit.
+    ma_liheap_income_eligible: [true, false]

policyengine_us/tests/policy/baseline/gov/states/ms/mdhs/liheap/ms_liheap.yaml

@@ -379,3 +379,22 @@
     # Household 2 pays its own electric bill of 45 a month. Matrix page 1,
     # household size 1, first band, Electric 700: min(700, 540) = 540.
     ms_liheap: [0, 540]
+- name: Case 20, a household that qualifies only through the federal 110% poverty floor is paid from the last income band.
+  period: 2026
+  input:
+    state_code: [MS, MS]
+    age: [40, 40]
+    ms_liheap_household_size: [11, 11]
+    ms_liheap_income: [77_000, 77_715]
+    heating_type: [PROPANE, PROPANE]
+    heating_expense: [2_000, 2_000]
+  output:
+    # Both incomes exceed the 75,593 size-11 limit (manual PDF page 58).
+    # Household 1 is below the 77,715 floor (110% of the 2025 guideline of
+    # 70,650) and qualifies under 42 U.S.C. 8624(b)(2)(B). Household 2 is at
+    # the floor and does not qualify.
+    ms_liheap_eligible: [true, false]
+    # The size-11 matrix (manual PDF pages 59-64) has an open fourth band
+    # above 52,988. Propane column: 800 - 3 x 50 = 650. A 2,000 bill exceeds
+    # the cap, and no electric bill is reported.
+    ms_liheap: [650, 0]

policyengine_us/tests/policy/baseline/gov/states/ms/mdhs/liheap/ms_liheap_eligible.yaml

@@ -64,3 +64,51 @@
     # Household 2 lives in public housing with heat included in the rent and no
     # energy bill of its own: not eligible.
     ms_liheap_eligible: [true, false]
+- name: Case 5, federal 110% poverty floor above the 60% state median income limit at size 11.
+  period: 2026
+  input:
+    state_code: [MS, MS, MS, MS, MS]
+    age: [40, 40, 40, 40, 40]
+    ms_liheap_household_size: [11, 11, 11, 11, 10]
+    ms_liheap_income: [75_593, 77_714.99, 77_715, 77_716, 74_051]
+    heating_type: [ELECTRICITY, ELECTRICITY, ELECTRICITY, ELECTRICITY, ELECTRICITY]
+    heating_expense: [1_000, 1_000, 1_000, 1_000, 1_000]
+  output:
+    # 42 U.S.C. 8624(b)(2)(B) bars excluding a household on income below 110%
+    # of the poverty guideline. FY2026 uses the 2025 guidelines (LIHEAP IM
+    # 2025-02): 15,650 + 5,500 x 10 = 70,650 for 11 people, and 110% is 77,715.
+    # The 60% SMI limit for 11 people is 75,593 (manual PDF page 58).
+    # Household 1 is at the 60% SMI limit: eligible.
+    # Household 2 is one cent below the floor: eligible.
+    # Household 3 is exactly at the floor, which is not below 110%: not eligible.
+    # Household 4 is above the floor: not eligible.
+    # Household 5 has 10 people, whose 74,050 limit exceeds the 71,665 floor
+    # (110% of 65,150), so the limit still applies: not eligible.
+    ms_liheap_eligible: [true, true, false, false, false]
+- name: Case 6, the floor uses the poverty guidelines from the year before the model year.
+  period: 2026
+  input:
+    state_code: MS
+    age: 40
+    ms_liheap_household_size: 11
+    ms_liheap_income: 78_000
+    heating_type: ELECTRICITY
+    heating_expense: 1_000
+  output:
+    # FY2026 uses the 2025 guidelines, so the floor is 77,715. The 2026
+    # guidelines would give 110% x (15,960 + 5,680 x 10) = 80,036.
+    ms_liheap_eligible: false
+- name: Case 7, FY2027 uses the 2026 poverty guidelines for the floor.
+  period: 2027
+  input:
+    state_code: [MS, MS]
+    age: [40, 40]
+    ms_liheap_household_size: [11, 11]
+    ms_liheap_income: [80_035.99, 80_036]
+    heating_type: [ELECTRICITY, ELECTRICITY]
+    heating_expense: [1_000, 1_000]
+  output:
+    # LIHEAP IM 2026-01 makes the 2026 guidelines mandatory in FY2027:
+    # 110% x (15,960 + 5,680 x 10) = 80,036 for 11 people, above the 79,402
+    # FY2027 60% SMI limit.
+    ms_liheap_eligible: [true, false]

policyengine_us/tests/policy/baseline/gov/states/nc/ncdhhs/sa/nc_sa.yaml

@@ -485,7 +485,8 @@
     nc_sa: 0
 
 # G.S. 108A-42.1 adjusts the rates each January 1 by the Social Security
-# cost-of-living adjustment. The 2027 rate and FBR are projections.
+# cost-of-living adjustment. The 2027 rate is uprated until North Carolina
+# publishes it; the 2027 FBR is the SSA amount announced with the 3.6% COLA.
 # https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/PDF/BySection/Chapter_108A/GS_108A-42.1.pdf
 - name: Case 37, basic facility rate follows the cost-of-living adjustment in 2027.
   period: 2027-01
@@ -495,13 +496,13 @@
     age: 65
     nc_sa_care_setting: ADULT_CARE_HOME
   output:
-    # 1,397 uprated by the projected Social Security index and rounded to the
-    # dollar.
-    nc_sa_rate: 1_436
-    # Projected FBR.
-    ssi: 1_021.83
-    # 1,436 + 70 - 1,021.83 = 484.17 -> 484.
-    nc_sa: 484
+    # 1,397 uprated by the Social Security index (2027 CPI-W 328.746 / 2026
+    # 317.265 = 1.036187) and rounded to the dollar: 1,447.55 -> 1,448.
+    nc_sa_rate: 1_448
+    # 2027 SSI federal benefit rate.
+    ssi: 1_029
+    # 1,448 + 70 - 1,029 = 489.
+    nc_sa: 489
 
 # An applicant "ineligible for SSI solely due to being over income for SSI"
 # qualifies without applying for SSI (SA-3100 I, II.A.6): "If the a/b

policyengine_us/tests/policy/baseline/gov/states/nj/dca/liheap/eligibility/nj_liheap_eligible.yaml

@@ -120,3 +120,48 @@
     is_tax_unit_dependent: [false, true]
   output:
     nj_liheap_eligible: [true, true]
+
+- name: Case 7, federal 110% poverty floor above the 60% state median income limit at size 32.
+  period: 2026
+  input:
+    state_code: [NJ, NJ, NJ, NJ, NJ]
+    nj_liheap_household_size: [32, 32, 32, 32, 31]
+    nj_liheap_countable_income: [202_092, 204_764.99, 204_765, 204_766, 199_201]
+    heat_expense_included_in_rent: [true, true, true, true, true]
+  output:
+    # 42 U.S.C. 8624(b)(2)(B) bars excluding a household on income below 110%
+    # of the poverty guideline. FY2026 uses the 2025 guidelines (LIHEAP IM
+    # 2025-02): 15,650 + 5,500 x 31 = 186,150 for 32 people, and 110% is
+    # 204,765. The annualized 60% SMI limit for 32 people is 202,092.
+    # Household 1 is at the 60% SMI limit: eligible.
+    # Household 2 is one cent below the floor: eligible.
+    # Household 3 is exactly at the floor, which is not below 110%: not eligible.
+    # Household 4 is above the floor: not eligible.
+    # Household 5 has 31 people, whose 199,200 limit exceeds the 198,715 floor
+    # (110% of 180,650), so the limit still applies: not eligible.
+    nj_liheap_eligible: [true, true, false, false, false]
+
+- name: Case 8, the floor uses the poverty guidelines from the year before the model year.
+  period: 2026
+  input:
+    state_code: NJ
+    nj_liheap_household_size: 32
+    nj_liheap_countable_income: 208_000
+    heat_expense_included_in_rent: true
+  output:
+    # FY2026 uses the 2025 guidelines, so the floor is 204,765. The 2026
+    # guidelines would give 110% x (15,960 + 5,680 x 31) = 211,244.
+    nj_liheap_eligible: false
+
+- name: Case 9, FY2024 uses the 2023 poverty guidelines for the floor.
+  period: 2024
+  input:
+    state_code: [NJ, NJ]
+    nj_liheap_household_size: [28, 28]
+    nj_liheap_countable_income: [168_695.99, 168_696]
+    heat_expense_included_in_rent: [true, true]
+  output:
+    # LIHEAP IM 2023-01 makes the 2023 guidelines mandatory in FY2024:
+    # 110% x (14,580 + 5,140 x 27) = 168,696 for 28 people, above the 167,952
+    # FY2024 annualized 60% SMI limit.
+    nj_liheap_eligible: [true, false]

policyengine_us/tests/policy/baseline/gov/states/or/ohcs/liheap/eligibility/or_liheap_eligible.yaml

@@ -43,3 +43,62 @@
     #   7. public housing is subsidized housing, so heat included in rent is
     #      again "No", ineligible.
     or_liheap_eligible: [false, true, false, true, true, false, false]
+
+- name: Case 2, federal 110% poverty floor above the 60% state median income limit at size 20.
+  period: 2026
+  input:
+    state_code: [OR, OR, OR, OR, OR]
+    spm_unit_size: [20, 20, 20, 20, 19]
+    or_liheap_countable_income: [128_441, 132_164.99, 132_165, 132_166, 126_227]
+    heat_expense_included_in_rent: [true, true, true, true, true]
+  output:
+    # 42 U.S.C. 8624(b)(2)(B) bars excluding a household on income below 110%
+    # of the poverty guideline. PY2026 uses the 2025 guidelines (LIHEAP IM
+    # 2025-02): 15,650 + 5,500 x 19 = 120,150 for 20 people, and 110% is
+    # 132,165. The 60% SMI limit for 20 people is 128,441 (federal size
+    # factors; the manual's table stops at 12 on page 77).
+    #   1. at the 60% SMI limit: eligible;
+    #   2. one cent below the floor: eligible;
+    #   3. exactly at the floor, which is not below 110%: ineligible;
+    #   4. above the floor: ineligible;
+    #   5. 19 people, whose 126,226 limit exceeds the 126,115 floor (110% of
+    #      114,650), so the limit still applies: ineligible.
+    or_liheap_eligible: [true, true, false, false, false]
+
+- name: Case 3, the floor uses the poverty guidelines from the year before the model year.
+  period: 2026
+  input:
+    state_code: OR
+    spm_unit_size: 20
+    or_liheap_countable_income: 134_000
+    heat_expense_included_in_rent: true
+  output:
+    # PY2026 uses the 2025 guidelines, so the floor is 132,165. The 2026
+    # guidelines would give 110% x (15,960 + 5,680 x 19) = 136,268.
+    or_liheap_eligible: false
+
+- name: Case 4, PY2025 uses the 2024 poverty guidelines for the floor.
+  period: 2025
+  input:
+    state_code: [OR, OR]
+    spm_unit_size: [19, 19]
+    or_liheap_countable_income: [123_089.99, 123_090]
+    heat_expense_included_in_rent: [true, true]
+  output:
+    # LIHEAP IM 2024-02 makes the 2024 guidelines mandatory in FY2025:
+    # 110% x (15,060 + 5,380 x 18) = 123,090 for 19 people, above the 121,051
+    # PY2025 60% SMI limit.
+    or_liheap_eligible: [true, false]
+
+- name: Case 5, PY2027 uses the 2026 poverty guidelines for the floor.
+  period: 2027
+  input:
+    state_code: [OR, OR]
+    spm_unit_size: [20, 20]
+    or_liheap_countable_income: [136_267.99, 136_268]
+    heat_expense_included_in_rent: [true, true]
+  output:
+    # LIHEAP IM 2026-01 makes the 2026 guidelines mandatory in FY2027:
+    # 110% x (15,960 + 5,680 x 19) = 136,268 for 20 people, above the 134,937
+    # PY2027 60% SMI limit.
+    or_liheap_eligible: [true, false]