Require New Hampshire FANF resources to be less than the limit

changelog.d/fix-nh-fanf-resource-limit-less-than.fixed.md

@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Make New Hampshire FANF resource eligibility require countable resources less than the limit, per RSA 167:79 III(f).

policyengine_us/tests/policy/baseline/gov/states/nh/dhhs/fanf/nh_fanf_resources_eligible.yaml

@@ -2,7 +2,9 @@
 # Resource limits differ for applicants vs recipients:
 # - Applicants: $1,000 (since 1997)
 # - Recipients: $5,000 (since 07/01/22, was $2,000 before)
-# Source: FAM 403; SR 97-03; BFA SR 22-17
+# Countable resources must be less than the limit (RSA 167:79 III(f)),
+# so a unit with resources equal to the limit is ineligible.
+# Source: RSA 167:79 III(f); He-W 656.06; FAM 403; SR 97-03; BFA SR 22-17
 
 - name: Case 1, zero resources is eligible.
   period: 2024-01
@@ -12,14 +14,15 @@
   output:
     nh_fanf_resources_eligible: true
 
-- name: Case 2, applicant resources at limit is eligible.
+- name: Case 2, applicant resources at limit is ineligible.
   period: 2024-01
   input:
     state_code: NH
     is_tanf_enrolled: false
     spm_unit_cash_assets: 1_000
   output:
-    nh_fanf_resources_eligible: true
+    # $1,000 is not less than the $1,000 limit
+    nh_fanf_resources_eligible: false
 
 - name: Case 3, applicant resources above limit is ineligible.
   period: 2024-01
@@ -30,14 +33,15 @@
   output:
     nh_fanf_resources_eligible: false
 
-- name: Case 4, recipient resources at limit is eligible.
+- name: Case 4, recipient resources at limit is ineligible.
   period: 2024-01
   input:
     state_code: NH
     is_tanf_enrolled: true
     spm_unit_cash_assets: 5_000
   output:
-    nh_fanf_resources_eligible: true
+    # $5,000 is not less than the $5,000 limit
+    nh_fanf_resources_eligible: false
 
 - name: Case 5, recipient resources above limit is ineligible.
   period: 2024-01
@@ -84,3 +88,33 @@
   output:
     # $999 < $1,000 limit = eligible
     nh_fanf_resources_eligible: true
+
+- name: Case 10, recipient at $4,999 is eligible.
+  period: 2024-01
+  input:
+    state_code: NH
+    is_tanf_enrolled: true
+    spm_unit_cash_assets: 4_999
+  output:
+    # $4,999 < $5,000 limit = eligible
+    nh_fanf_resources_eligible: true
+
+- name: Case 11, recipient at the $2,000 limit before July 2022 is ineligible.
+  period: 2022-01
+  input:
+    state_code: NH
+    is_tanf_enrolled: true
+    spm_unit_cash_assets: 2_000
+  output:
+    # $2,000 is not less than the $2,000 limit
+    nh_fanf_resources_eligible: false
+
+- name: Case 12, recipient at $1,999 before July 2022 is eligible.
+  period: 2022-01
+  input:
+    state_code: NH
+    is_tanf_enrolled: true
+    spm_unit_cash_assets: 1_999
+  output:
+    # $1,999 < $2,000 limit = eligible
+    nh_fanf_resources_eligible: true

policyengine_us/variables/gov/states/nh/dhhs/fanf/eligibility/nh_fanf_resources_eligible.py

@@ -7,8 +7,10 @@ class nh_fanf_resources_eligible(Variable):
     label = "New Hampshire FANF resources eligible"
     definition_period = YEAR
     reference = (
+        "https://gc.nh.gov/rsa/html/xii/167/167-79.htm",
+        "https://gc.nh.gov/rules/state_agencies/he-w600.html",
+        "https://www.dhhs.nh.gov/fam_htm/html/403_resource_limits_fam.htm",
         "https://www.dhhs.nh.gov/sr_htm/html/sr_97-03_dated_02_97.htm",
-        "https://www.dhhs.nh.gov/fam_htm/newfam.htm",
         "https://www.dhhs.nh.gov/sites/g/files/ehbemt476/files/documents2/tanf-state-plan.pdf#page=25",
     )
     defined_for = StateCode.NH
@@ -18,6 +20,10 @@ def formula(spm_unit, period, parameters):
         # Resource limits differ for applicants ($1,000) vs recipients ($5,000 as of 07/01/22)
         p = parameters(period).gov.states.nh.dhhs.fanf.resources
         resources = spm_unit("spm_unit_cash_assets", period)
+        # He-W 656.06(a)(1) also treats an applicant who received FANF in any
+        # one of the previous 6 months as a recipient. The inputs have no
+        # 6-month look-back, so current enrollment stands in for it.
         is_enrolled = spm_unit("is_tanf_enrolled", period.first_month)
         limit = where(is_enrolled, p.recipient_limit, p.applicant_limit)
-        return resources <= limit
+        # RSA 167:79 III(f): countable resources "shall be less than" the limit.
+        return resources < limit

source_conflicts/candidates.yaml

@@ -4815,6 +4815,41 @@ candidates:
     prs: []
   state: unreviewed
   note: Verify whether the still-listed ruling applies during these years despite its obsolete tax base.
+- id: us-nh:fanf-resource-limit-equality
+  program: tanf
+  years:
+    from: 2022
+    type: calendar
+  question: Is a New Hampshire FANF assistance group whose countable resources equal its resource limit ($1,000 for
+    applicants, $5,000 for recipients) resource-eligible?
+  sources:
+  - kind: statute
+    citation: RSA 167:79, III(f)
+    url: https://gc.nh.gov/rsa/html/xii/167/167-79.htm
+  - kind: regulation
+    citation: N.H. Admin. Rules He-W 656.06(a)
+    url: https://gc.nh.gov/rules/state_agencies/he-w600.html
+  - kind: manual
+    citation: NH DHHS Family Assistance Manual 403, Resource Limits (SR 22-17, dated 07/22)
+    url: https://www.dhhs.nh.gov/fam_htm/html/403_resource_limits_fam.htm
+  readings:
+    statute: The assistance group's countable resources "shall be less than the allowable resource limit", so
+      resources equal to the limit fail the test.
+    other: Countable resources "cannot exceed the limits", so resources equal to the limit pass.
+  example: An applicant group with exactly $1,000 in countable resources is ineligible under the statute, which PE-US
+    follows, and resource-eligible under FAM 403; the same holds for a recipient group with exactly $5,000.
+  pe_us:
+    follows: statute
+    code:
+    - policyengine_us/variables/gov/states/nh/dhhs/fanf/eligibility/nh_fanf_resources_eligible.py
+    prs:
+    - https://github.com/PolicyEngine/policyengine-us/pull/10499
+  state: unreviewed
+  note: He-W 656.06(a)(2) gives only the amounts and no comparison. He-W 656.04(c)(6) uses "exceed the allowable
+    limit" only to start a grace period for recipients whose excess resources are personal property that cannot
+    readily be converted to cash; it does not set the eligibility test. RSA 167:79, III(e) uses the same "less
+    than" wording for the income test, and FAM 611.01 follows it there. FAM 403 versions before SR 22-17 were not
+    checked, so the conflict may start earlier than 2022.
 - id: us-nh:fap-income-floor-vs-smi-limit
   program: liheap
   years: