Pay the Florida LIHEAP Home Energy benefit to cooling-only households

changelog.d/fl-liheap-cooling.fixed.md

@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Florida LIHEAP Home Energy benefit now pays households that pay their own electricity bill for cooling, including homes without heating and subsidized tenants with heat in the rent.

policyengine_us/programs.yaml

@@ -1164,7 +1164,7 @@ programs:
         full_name: Florida Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program
         variable: fl_liheap
         parameter_prefix: gov.states.fl.commerce.liheap
-        notes: Regular heating for FY2025-FY2026; FY2026 limits use 60% of state median income for every size, departing from contract wording for large households and from the printed size-13 row. Crisis, cooling, weatherization and equipment assistance are out of scope.
+        notes: Regular Home Energy benefit for FY2025-FY2026, covering heating and also households that pay their own electricity bill for cooling; FY2026 limits use 60% of state median income for every size, departing from contract wording for large households and from the printed size-13 row. Crisis, weatherization and equipment assistance are out of scope.
       - state: IL
         status: complete
         name: Illinois LIHEAP

policyengine_us/tests/policy/baseline/gov/states/fl/commerce/liheap/eligibility/fl_liheap_eligible.yaml

@@ -324,3 +324,129 @@
     has_heating_expense: [true, false]
   output:
     fl_liheap_eligible: [true, false]
+
+# A home without heating qualifies through cooling: the one non-crisis Home
+# Energy benefit per 12 months covers heating or cooling (R. 73C-26.022(2)(a);
+# manual 200 P and Q, page 8), and electricity is a home energy type
+# (R. 73C-26.022(6)). Electricity of 1_873 a year is EIA's 2024 Florida average
+# residential bill of 156.09 a month. Wages of 14_820 are part time at the
+# Florida minimum wage, as in Case 7; 35_360 is full time at 17.00 an hour.
+- name: Case 8, a home without heating that pays its own electricity bill for cooling is eligible.
+  period: 2026
+  input:
+    people:
+      person1:
+        age: 40
+        employment_income: 14_820
+    spm_units:
+      spm_unit:
+        members: [person1]
+        heating_type: NONE
+        has_cooling_expense: true
+        pre_subsidy_electricity_expense: 1_873
+        fl_tca: 0
+        snap: 0
+    households:
+      household:
+        members: [person1]
+        state_code: FL
+  output:
+    # 14,820 <= 32,155; no heating fuel, a cooling cost and an electricity bill of 1,873 > 0
+    fl_liheap_eligible: true
+
+- name: Case 9, a cooling-only household with income above the limit is ineligible.
+  period: 2026
+  input:
+    people:
+      person1:
+        age: 40
+        employment_income: 35_360
+    spm_units:
+      spm_unit:
+        members: [person1]
+        heating_type: NONE
+        has_cooling_expense: true
+        pre_subsidy_electricity_expense: 1_873
+        fl_tca: 0
+        snap: 0
+    households:
+      household:
+        members: [person1]
+        state_code: FL
+  output:
+    # 35,360 > 32,155 and no categorical receipt
+    fl_liheap_eligible: false
+
+- name: Case 10, a home without heating that reports cooling costs but no electricity bill is ineligible.
+  period: 2026
+  input:
+    people:
+      person1:
+        age: 40
+        employment_income: 14_820
+    spm_units:
+      spm_unit:
+        members: [person1]
+        heating_type: NONE
+        has_cooling_expense: true
+        pre_subsidy_electricity_expense: 0
+        fl_tca: 0
+        snap: 0
+    households:
+      household:
+        members: [person1]
+        state_code: FL
+  output:
+    # No electricity bill to show responsibility for the home energy cost
+    fl_liheap_eligible: false
+
+- name: Case 11, an unspecified heating fuel with cooling costs and an electricity bill is ineligible.
+  period: 2026
+  input:
+    people:
+      person1:
+        age: 40
+        employment_income: 14_820
+    spm_units:
+      spm_unit:
+        members: [person1]
+        heating_type: UNSPECIFIED
+        heat_expense_included_in_rent: false
+        has_cooling_expense: true
+        pre_subsidy_electricity_expense: 1_873
+        fl_tca: 0
+        snap: 0
+    households:
+      household:
+        members: [person1]
+        state_code: FL
+  output:
+    # heating_type is required; UNSPECIFIED does not open the cooling path
+    fl_liheap_eligible: false
+
+# A household with a heating fuel but no heating obligation is still responsible
+# for part of its home heating and cooling costs when it pays its own
+# electricity bill for cooling (700.01 E, page 23; 900.08 A, page 43). The
+# first household is in subsidized housing with gas heat included in the rent;
+# the second heats with gas outside the rent but reports no heating obligation,
+# as in Case 7. Wages and electricity are as in Case 8.
+- name: Case 12, a heated home without a heating obligation that pays its own electricity bill for cooling is eligible.
+  period: 2026
+  input:
+    state_code: [FL, FL]
+    age: [40, 40]
+    immigration_status: [CITIZEN, CITIZEN]
+    ssi: [0, 0]
+    fl_tca: [0, 0]
+    snap: [0, 0]
+    employment_income: [14_820, 14_820]
+    receives_housing_assistance: [true, false]
+    heating_type: [NATURAL_GAS, NATURAL_GAS]
+    gas_expense: [0, 1_200]
+    heat_expense_included_in_rent: [true, false]
+    has_heating_expense: [false, false]
+    has_cooling_expense: [true, true]
+    pre_subsidy_electricity_expense: [1_873, 1_873]
+  output:
+    # 14,820 <= 32,155; a cooling cost and an electricity bill of 1,873 > 0
+    fl_liheap_eligible: [true, true]

policyengine_us/tests/policy/baseline/gov/states/fl/commerce/liheap/fl_liheap.yaml

@@ -979,3 +979,96 @@
     fl_liheap_income_limit: [103_148, 103_148, 103_148]
     fl_liheap_eligible: [true, true, false]
     fl_liheap: [200, 200, 0]
+
+# A home without heating that pays its own electricity bill for cooling
+# receives the same fuel-neutral Home Energy matrix award (R. 73C-26.022(2)(a);
+# manual 700.01C, page 23). Wages of 29_120 are full time at the 14.00 Florida
+# minimum wage; electricity of 1_873 a year is EIA's 2024 Florida average
+# residential bill of 156.09 a month.
+- name: Case 29, a cooling-only single parent with a young child receives the band two base and the child addition.
+  period: 2026
+  absolute_error_margin: 0.01
+  input:
+    people:
+      person1:
+        age: 31
+        employment_income: 29_120
+      person2:
+        age: 7
+      person3:
+        age: 3
+    spm_units:
+      spm_unit:
+        members: [person1, person2, person3]
+        heating_type: NONE
+        has_cooling_expense: true
+        pre_subsidy_electricity_expense: 1_873
+        fl_tca: 0
+        snap: 0
+    households:
+      household:
+        members: [person1, person2, person3]
+        state_code: FL
+  output:
+    fl_liheap_eligible: true
+    # Size 3 bands: 25,972 < 29,120 <= 36,360 -> band 2 base 300, plus 150 for
+    # the child aged 3
+    fl_liheap: 450
+
+- name: Case 30, a home without heating and without cooling costs receives nothing.
+  period: 2026
+  absolute_error_margin: 0.01
+  input:
+    people:
+      person1:
+        age: 40
+        employment_income: 14_820
+    spm_units:
+      spm_unit:
+        members: [person1]
+        heating_type: NONE
+        has_cooling_expense: false
+        pre_subsidy_electricity_expense: 1_873
+        fl_tca: 0
+        snap: 0
+    households:
+      household:
+        members: [person1]
+        state_code: FL
+  output:
+    fl_liheap_eligible: false
+    fl_liheap: 0
+
+# A subsidized household with gas heat included in the rent pays its own
+# electricity bill for cooling, so it is responsible for part of its home
+# heating and cooling costs (manual 700.01 E, page 23) and receives the same
+# award with no deduction. Wages of 14_820 are part time at the Florida minimum
+# wage; electricity of 1_873 a year is EIA's 2024 Florida average residential
+# bill of 156.09 a month.
+- name: Case 31, a subsidized household with heat in the rent that pays for cooling receives the band one base.
+  period: 2026
+  absolute_error_margin: 0.01
+  input:
+    people:
+      person1:
+        age: 40
+        employment_income: 14_820
+    spm_units:
+      spm_unit:
+        members: [person1]
+        heating_type: NATURAL_GAS
+        heat_expense_included_in_rent: true
+        receives_housing_assistance: true
+        gas_expense: 0
+        has_cooling_expense: true
+        pre_subsidy_electricity_expense: 1_873
+        fl_tca: 0
+        snap: 0
+    households:
+      household:
+        members: [person1]
+        state_code: FL
+  output:
+    fl_liheap_eligible: true
+    # Size 1 band one: 14,820 <= 50% x 32,155 -> base 350
+    fl_liheap: 350

policyengine_us/variables/gov/states/fl/commerce/liheap/eligibility/fl_liheap_eligible.py

@@ -6,15 +6,17 @@ class fl_liheap_eligible(Variable):
     value_type = bool
     entity = SPMUnit
     definition_period = YEAR
-    label = "Florida LIHEAP regular heating eligibility"
+    label = "Florida LIHEAP regular home energy eligibility"
     defined_for = StateCode.FL
     reference = (
         "https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/42/8624#b_2_B",
-        # PDF pages 5, 8, 45
-        "https://liheapch.acf.gov/docs/2026/state-plans/FL_Plan_2026.pdf#page=5",
+        "https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/florida/Fla-Admin-Code-Ann-R-73C-26-022",
+        "https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/florida/Fla-Admin-Code-Ann-R-73C-26-023",
+        # PDF pages 4-5, 8, 45
+        "https://liheapch.acf.gov/docs/2026/state-plans/FL_Plan_2026.pdf#page=4",
         # PDF pages 8-9
         "https://liheapch.acf.gov/docs/2025/state-plans/FL_Plan_2025.pdf#page=8",
-        # PDF pages 4, 23, 39, 41, 43, 47-48, 50-51
+        # PDF pages 4, 8, 23, 39, 41, 43, 47-48, 50-51
         "https://liheapch.acf.gov/sites/default/files/webfiles/docs/2023/manuals/FL_PolicyManual_2023.pdf#page=4",
         # PDF pages 12-13
         "https://www.pbcgov.com/pubInf/Agenda/20260106/3E2.pdf#page=12",
@@ -73,6 +75,23 @@ def formula(spm_unit, period, parameters):
         fuel_qualifies = (heating_type != types.NONE) & (
             heat_in_rent | (heating_type != types.UNSPECIFIED)
         )
+        # The one non-crisis benefit per 12 months (R. 73C-26.022(2)(a)) is a
+        # Home Energy benefit for heating or cooling (manual 200 P and Q, page
+        # 8), and electricity is a home energy type (R. 73C-26.022(6)). An
+        # applicant responsible for all or part of its home heating and cooling
+        # costs is eligible (700.01 E, page 23; 900.08 A, page 43). So a
+        # household with any reported heating type, including a home without
+        # heating or one with heat in subsidized rent, qualifies when it pays
+        # its own electricity bill for cooling. UNSPECIFIED does not. Cooling
+        # wholly in the rent with no obligation of its own pays nothing, as
+        # R. 73C-26.023(4) provides.
+        cooling_only = (
+            (heating_type != types.UNSPECIFIED)
+            & spm_unit("has_cooling_expense", period)
+            & (spm_unit("pre_subsidy_electricity_expense", period) > 0)
+        )
         return (
-            (size > 0) & (income_eligible | categorical) & responsible & fuel_qualifies
+            (size > 0)
+            & (income_eligible | categorical)
+            & ((responsible & fuel_qualifies) | cooling_only)
         )

policyengine_us/variables/gov/states/fl/commerce/liheap/eligibility/fl_liheap_income_limit.py

@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ class fl_liheap_income_limit(Variable):
     entity = SPMUnit
     definition_period = YEAR
     unit = USD
-    label = "Florida LIHEAP annual heating maximum income value before rounding"
+    label = "Florida LIHEAP annual home energy maximum income value before rounding"
     defined_for = StateCode.FL
     reference = (
         "https://liheapch.acf.gov/docs/2026/state-plans/FL_Plan_2026.pdf#page=8",

policyengine_us/variables/gov/states/fl/commerce/liheap/fl_liheap.py

@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ class fl_liheap(Variable):
     entity = SPMUnit
     definition_period = YEAR
     unit = USD
-    label = "Florida LIHEAP regular heating assistance"
+    label = "Florida LIHEAP regular home energy assistance"
     defined_for = StateCode.FL
     reference = (
         "https://liheapch.acf.gov/docs/2026/benefits-matricies/FL_BenefitMatrix_Heat-Cool_2026.pdf",

source_conflicts/candidates.yaml

@@ -2489,38 +2489,48 @@ candidates:
     from: 2025
     to: 2026
     type: federal-fiscal
-  question: Does including energy costs in unsubsidized rent permit Florida LIHEAP eligibility or prevent the required
-    landlord certification?
+  question: Is a Florida household whose energy costs are wholly included in unsubsidized rent, with no obligation of its own,
+    eligible for LIHEAP?
   sources:
+  - kind: regulation
+    citation: Fla. Admin. Code R. 73C-26.023(4)
+    url: https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/florida/Fla-Admin-Code-Ann-R-73C-26-023
   - kind: manual
     citation: Florida LIHEAP manual parts 900.01A p.39 and 100.01 p.4
     url: https://liheapch.acf.gov/sites/default/files/webfiles/docs/2023/manuals/FL_PolicyManual_2023.pdf#page=4
   - kind: manual
     citation: Florida LIHEAP manual part 1100.04B(1), p.47
     url: https://liheapch.acf.gov/sites/default/files/webfiles/docs/2023/manuals/FL_PolicyManual_2023.pdf#page=47
   readings:
-    statute: No statute is supplied; parts 900.01A and 100.01 allow utilities in unsubsidized rent and payment to
-      the landlord.
-    other: Part 1100.04B(1) requests a statement that home energy costs are not included in rent.
+    statute: No statute is supplied; R. 73C-26.023(4) says "The applicant is not eligible for assistance if home energy
+      costs are totally included in the rent and the applicant has no obligation to pay any portion of the energy costs",
+      and part 1100.04B(1) requests a statement that home energy costs are not included in rent.
+    other: Parts 900.01A and 100.01 allow "non-subsidized rent that includes utilities" and payment to the landlord.
+  example: In 2026, an unsubsidized renter aged 40 with $14,820 of wages, gas heat included in the rent and no bill of its
+    own receives $350 under part 900.01A and $0 under R. 73C-26.023(4); the same renter with no heating and cooling in the
+    rent receives $0 under the rule and $350 under part 900.01A.
   pe_us:
     follows: unknown
     code:
     - policyengine_us/variables/gov/states/fl/commerce/liheap/eligibility/fl_liheap_eligible.py
     prs:
     - https://github.com/PolicyEngine/policyengine-us/pull/9969
-  state: unreviewed
-  note: 'PE-US follows parts 900.01A and 100.01: heat in unsubsidized rent qualifies (fl_liheap_eligible.py). Verify whether the 1100.04B(1) statement applies to a narrower payment situation.'
+    - https://github.com/PolicyEngine/policyengine-us/pull/10740
+  state: open
+  note: 'The heating route follows parts 900.01A and 100.01: heat in unsubsidized rent qualifies (fl_liheap_eligible.py).
+    The cooling route added by PR 10740 requires the household''s own electricity bill, so cooling wholly in the rent pays
+    $0, as R. 73C-26.023(4) reads. A ruling is needed on the heating route.'
 - id: us-fl:liheap-fy2026-payment-range
   program: liheap
   years:
     from: 2026
     to: 2026
     type: federal-fiscal
-  question: Do Florida's FY2026 regular heating payments range from the plan's estimated $400 to $1,350 or from the
-    October 2025 payment matrix's $200 to $700?
+  question: Does Florida's FY2026 Home Energy benefit, for heating or cooling, range from the plan's estimated $400 to $1,350
+    or from the October 2025 payment matrix's $200 to $700?
   sources:
   - kind: guidance
-    citation: FY2026 LIHEAP State Plan item 2.6, p.9
+    citation: "FY2026 LIHEAP State Plan items 2.6 (heating) and 3.6 (cooling) #page 9,11"
     url: https://liheapch.acf.gov/docs/2026/state-plans/FL_Plan_2026.pdf#page=9
   - kind: form
     citation: October 2025 LIHEAP payment matrix
@@ -2534,17 +2544,19 @@ candidates:
   readings:
     statute: No statute is supplied; the manual and contract D(10)b require the current matrix, which pays $200 to
       $700 with all additions.
-    other: Plan item 2.6 prints the FY2025 estimates, a $400 minimum and a $1,350 maximum.
+    other: Plan items 2.6 and 3.6 print the FY2025 estimates, a $400 minimum and a $1,350 maximum.
   pe_us:
     follows: unknown
     code:
     - policyengine_us/parameters/gov/states/fl/commerce/liheap/payment/base_amount.yaml
     - policyengine_us/variables/gov/states/fl/commerce/liheap/fl_liheap.py
     prs:
     - https://github.com/PolicyEngine/policyengine-us/pull/9969
+    - https://github.com/PolicyEngine/policyengine-us/pull/10740
   state: unreviewed
-  note: PE-US follows the October 2025 matrix (base_amount.yaml, fl_liheap.py). The draft FFY2027 plan, section 2.6,
-    estimates a $200 minimum and a $700 maximum, matching it.
+  note: PE-US follows the October 2025 matrix (base_amount.yaml, fl_liheap.py) for heating and for the cooling route PR
+    10740 adds, which can pay $350, below the printed $400 minimum. The draft FFY2027 plan, section 2.6, estimates a $200
+    minimum and a $700 maximum, matching it.
 - id: us-fl:liheap-income-floor-vs-smi-limit
   program: liheap
   years: