diff --git a/changelog.d/fix-9987-va-tanf-up-standards.fixed.md b/changelog.d/fix-9987-va-tanf-up-standards.fixed.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000000..64bb1787229 --- /dev/null +++ b/changelog.d/fix-9987-va-tanf-up-standards.fixed.md @@ -0,0 +1 @@ +Pay Virginia TANF-UP (two-parent) units the TANF standards of assistance and maximum payment in every year, as the Appropriation Act's floor for two-parent families requires, instead of the July 2020 TANF-UP schedule. diff --git a/policyengine_us/parameters/gov/states/va/dss/tanf/payment/up_grant_standard/in_effect.yaml b/policyengine_us/parameters/gov/states/va/dss/tanf/payment/up_grant_standard/in_effect.yaml new file mode 100644 index 00000000000..907596397bf --- /dev/null +++ b/policyengine_us/parameters/gov/states/va/dss/tanf/payment/up_grant_standard/in_effect.yaml @@ -0,0 +1,27 @@ +description: Virginia pays two-parent families the separate Unemployed Parent standards of assistance, instead of the regular standards, under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program if this is true. + +metadata: + unit: bool + period: month + label: Virginia TANF-UP separate standards of assistance in effect + reference: + - title: 2020 Appropriation Act (HB 30, Chapter 1289), Item 350 C + href: https://budget.lis.virginia.gov/item/2020/1/HB30/Chapter/1/350/ + - title: 2024 Appropriation Act (HB 6001, Chapter 2), Item 325 C + href: https://budget.lis.virginia.gov/item/2024/2/HB6001/Chapter/1/325/ + - title: Virginia TANF Manual Transmittal 68 (July 1, 2020), Section 304, Appendix 3 added + href: https://web.archive.org/web/20210202151340/https://www.dss.virginia.gov/files/division/bp/tanf/manual/Transmittal_68.pdf#page=6 + - title: Virginia TANF Manual Transmittal 71 (July 1, 2021), Section 304, Appendix 3 removed, page 3-4 + href: https://web.archive.org/web/20210720071052/https://www.dss.virginia.gov/files/division/bp/tanf/manual/Transmittal_71.pdf#page=3 + - title: Virginia TANF Manual (7/24), Section 304.1 - Standards of Assistance + href: https://www.dss.virginia.gov/media/vdss/benefit-programs/documents/tanfview/tanf/Chapter-300---Need-and-Amount-of-Assistance.pdf#page=19 + +values: + # The Appropriation Act (Item 350 C in 2020, Item 325 C in 2024) requires + # that the basic benefit payment for two-parent families "shall not be less + # than what they would have received under TANF". The separate TANF-UP + # schedule (Section 304, Appendix 3) existed only from July 2020 to June 2021 + # (added by Transmittal 68, removed by Transmittal 71), and it was below the + # TANF schedule. Two-parent units therefore get the TANF standards in every + # year. + 1996-01-01: false diff --git a/policyengine_us/tests/policy/baseline/gov/states/va/dss/tanf/eligibility/va_tanf_income_eligibility.yaml b/policyengine_us/tests/policy/baseline/gov/states/va/dss/tanf/eligibility/va_tanf_income_eligibility.yaml index 3700a47ad72..0e0b39c0dfe 100644 --- a/policyengine_us/tests/policy/baseline/gov/states/va/dss/tanf/eligibility/va_tanf_income_eligibility.yaml +++ b/policyengine_us/tests/policy/baseline/gov/states/va/dss/tanf/eligibility/va_tanf_income_eligibility.yaml @@ -1,7 +1,8 @@ # VA TANF Income Eligibility Tests # Two-step test: # Step 1: va_tanf_gross_income <= need_standard -# Step 2: countable_income <= grant_standard (or up_grant_standard if UP eligible) +# Step 2: countable_income <= grant_standard (also for UP eligible units, +# unless the separate TANF-UP standards are in effect) - name: Case 1, no income is eligible. period: 2023 @@ -58,34 +59,35 @@ # Step 2: 7,000 <= 6,000? NO (fails step 2) va_tanf_income_eligibility: false -- name: Case 5, UP eligible uses UP grant standard. - period: 2023 +- name: Case 5, in 2021 UP eligible units use the TANF grant standard. + period: 2021 input: state_code: VA va_tanf_gross_income: 8_000 va_tanf_need_standard: 12_000 - va_tanf_countable_income: 4_500 + va_tanf_countable_income: 5_500 va_up_tanf_eligibility: true va_tanf_grant_standard: 6_000 va_tanf_up_grant_standard: 5_000 output: # Step 1: 8,000 <= 12,000? YES - # Step 2 (UP): 4,500 <= 5,000? YES + # Step 2 (TANF standard): 5,500 <= 6,000? YES + # (5,500 is above the TANF-UP standard of 5,000) va_tanf_income_eligibility: true -- name: Case 6, UP eligible but countable exceeds UP grant - not eligible. - period: 2023 +- name: Case 6, in 2021 UP eligible units above the TANF grant standard are not eligible. + period: 2021 input: state_code: VA va_tanf_gross_income: 8_000 va_tanf_need_standard: 12_000 - va_tanf_countable_income: 5_500 + va_tanf_countable_income: 6_500 va_up_tanf_eligibility: true va_tanf_grant_standard: 6_000 - va_tanf_up_grant_standard: 5_000 + va_tanf_up_grant_standard: 7_000 output: # Step 1: 8,000 <= 12,000? YES - # Step 2 (UP): 5,500 <= 5,000? NO (fails step 2) + # Step 2 (TANF standard): 6,500 <= 6,000? NO (fails step 2) va_tanf_income_eligibility: false - name: Case 7, only calculate for VA. @@ -142,32 +144,62 @@ # Step 2: 6,001 <= 6,000? NO (just above boundary) va_tanf_income_eligibility: false -- name: Case 11, UP eligible with countable exactly at UP grant standard. - period: 2023 +- name: Case 11, before July 2020 UP eligible units with countable at the TANF grant standard are eligible. + period: 2019 input: state_code: VA va_tanf_gross_income: 8_000 va_tanf_need_standard: 12_000 - va_tanf_countable_income: 5_000 + va_tanf_countable_income: 6_000 va_up_tanf_eligibility: true va_tanf_grant_standard: 6_000 va_tanf_up_grant_standard: 5_000 output: # Step 1: 8,000 <= 12,000? YES - # Step 2 (UP): 5,000 <= 5,000? YES (at boundary) + # Step 2 (TANF standard): 6,000 <= 6,000? YES (at boundary) va_tanf_income_eligibility: true -- name: Case 12, UP eligible with countable $1 above UP grant standard. +- name: Case 12, before July 2020 UP eligible units $1 above the TANF grant standard are not eligible. + period: 2019 + input: + state_code: VA + va_tanf_gross_income: 8_000 + va_tanf_need_standard: 12_000 + va_tanf_countable_income: 6_001 + va_up_tanf_eligibility: true + va_tanf_grant_standard: 6_000 + va_tanf_up_grant_standard: 7_000 + output: + # Step 1: 8,000 <= 12,000? YES + # Step 2 (TANF standard): 6,001 <= 6,000? NO (just above boundary) + va_tanf_income_eligibility: false + +- name: Case 13, in 2023 UP eligible units use the TANF grant standard. period: 2023 input: state_code: VA va_tanf_gross_income: 8_000 va_tanf_need_standard: 12_000 - va_tanf_countable_income: 5_001 + va_tanf_countable_income: 5_500 va_up_tanf_eligibility: true va_tanf_grant_standard: 6_000 va_tanf_up_grant_standard: 5_000 output: # Step 1: 8,000 <= 12,000? YES - # Step 2 (UP): 5,001 <= 5,000? NO (just above boundary) + # Step 2 (TANF standard): 5,500 <= 6,000? YES + va_tanf_income_eligibility: true + +- name: Case 14, in 2023 UP eligible units above the TANF grant standard are not eligible. + period: 2023 + input: + state_code: VA + va_tanf_gross_income: 8_000 + va_tanf_need_standard: 12_000 + va_tanf_countable_income: 6_001 + va_up_tanf_eligibility: true + va_tanf_grant_standard: 6_000 + va_tanf_up_grant_standard: 7_000 + output: + # Step 1: 8,000 <= 12,000? YES + # Step 2 (TANF standard): 6,001 <= 6,000? NO va_tanf_income_eligibility: false diff --git a/policyengine_us/tests/policy/baseline/gov/states/va/dss/tanf/integration.yaml b/policyengine_us/tests/policy/baseline/gov/states/va/dss/tanf/integration.yaml index fb12851ef99..6ebabd806f8 100644 --- a/policyengine_us/tests/policy/baseline/gov/states/va/dss/tanf/integration.yaml +++ b/policyengine_us/tests/policy/baseline/gov/states/va/dss/tanf/integration.yaml @@ -144,7 +144,13 @@ # Need standard (Group III, size 4): $1,178/month va_tanf_need_standard: 1_178 # - # UP Grant standard (Group III, size 4): $513/month + # TANF grant standard (Group III, size 4): $589/month, the 7/20 + # Section 304, Appendix 2 (Transmittal 68) standard + va_tanf_grant_standard: 589 + # + # Separate UP grant standard (Group III, size 4, Appendix 3): $513/month, + # not used: the Appropriation Act's floor gives two-parent units the TANF + # standard va_tanf_up_grant_standard: 513 # # No earned income @@ -159,10 +165,10 @@ # Income eligibility: $0 <= $1,178? YES va_tanf_income_eligibility: true # - # Benefit (TANF-UP): $513 - $0 = $513 - # Maximum UP (Group III): $648/month - # $513 >= $10 and <= $648, so benefit = $513 - va_tanf: 513 + # Benefit: $589 - $0 = $589 + # Maximum (Group III): $745/month + # $589 >= $10 and <= $745, so benefit = $589 + va_tanf: 589 - name: Income exceeds need standard - Not eligible absolute_error_margin: 0.01 @@ -616,7 +622,13 @@ # Need standard (Group II, size 3): $836/month va_tanf_need_standard: 836 # - # UP Grant standard (Group II, size 3): $363/month + # TANF grant standard (Group II, size 3): $417/month, the 7/20 + # Section 304, Appendix 2 (Transmittal 68) standard + va_tanf_grant_standard: 417 + # + # Separate UP grant standard (Group II, size 3, Appendix 3): $363/month, + # not used: the Appropriation Act's floor gives two-parent units the TANF + # standard va_tanf_up_grant_standard: 363 # # No income @@ -625,8 +637,8 @@ # Income eligibility: $0 <= $836? YES va_tanf_income_eligibility: true # - # Benefit (TANF-UP): $363 - $0 = $363 - va_tanf: 363 + # Benefit: $417 - $0 = $417 (Group II maximum $625) + va_tanf: 417 - name: Single person household (pregnant woman) period: 2021-01 @@ -727,3 +739,49 @@ # # Not eligible va_tanf: 0 + +- name: TANF-UP family of eight in Group III in 2025 gets the TANF maximum + period: 2025-01 + input: + people: + person1: + age: 35 + is_disabled: false + person2: + age: 33 + is_disabled: false + person3: + age: 12 + person4: + age: 10 + person5: + age: 9 + person6: + age: 7 + person7: + age: 5 + person8: + age: 3 + spm_units: + spm_unit: + members: [person1, person2, person3, person4, person5, person6, person7, person8] + tax_units: + tax_unit: + members: [person1, person2, person3, person4, person5, person6, person7, person8] + households: + household: + members: [person1, person2, person3, person4, person5, person6, person7, person8] + state_code: VA + county_str: ARLINGTON_COUNTY_VA + output: + # Both parents are able-bodied, so the unit is a TANF-UP unit. + va_up_tanf_eligibility: true + # No income. + va_tanf_countable_income: 0 + va_tanf_income_eligibility: true + # TANF standard (Group III, size 8): $933 * 1.155 = $1,077.615 + # The TANF standard and the TANF maximum apply: + # min($1,077.615, ceil($745 * 1.155) = $861) = $861 + # 7/22 Section 304, Appendix 2 (Transmittal 74): min($1,079, $861) = $861 + # (the TANF-UP maximum would be ceil($648 * 1.155) = $749) + va_tanf: 861 diff --git a/policyengine_us/tests/policy/baseline/gov/states/va/dss/tanf/va_tanf.yaml b/policyengine_us/tests/policy/baseline/gov/states/va/dss/tanf/va_tanf.yaml index 21d4de90b7d..842f02bd86f 100644 --- a/policyengine_us/tests/policy/baseline/gov/states/va/dss/tanf/va_tanf.yaml +++ b/policyengine_us/tests/policy/baseline/gov/states/va/dss/tanf/va_tanf.yaml @@ -23,18 +23,34 @@ # Grant standard $2,100 - countable income $2,000 = $100 payment va_tanf: 100 -- name: If up tanf eligible, small payment is still paid. - period: 2023 +- name: In 2021 a TANF-UP unit gets the TANF grant standard. + period: 2021 input: va_tanf_eligibility: true va_up_tanf_eligibility: true - va_tanf_grant_standard: 0 - va_tanf_up_grant_standard: 2_100 - va_tanf_countable_income: 2_000 + va_tanf_grant_standard: 2_400 + va_tanf_up_grant_standard: 1_800 + va_tanf_countable_income: 1_200 county_str: ARLINGTON_COUNTY_VA output: - # UP grant standard $2,100 - countable income $2,000 = $100 payment - va_tanf: 100 + # TANF grant standard $2,400 - countable income $1,200 = $1,200 payment + # ($200 - $100 = $100 a month, below the monthly maximum). The TANF-UP + # standard would give $1,800 - $1,200 = $600. + va_tanf: 1_200 + +- name: Before July 2020 a TANF-UP unit gets the TANF grant standard. + period: 2020-01 + input: + va_tanf_eligibility: true + va_up_tanf_eligibility: true + va_tanf_grant_standard: 400 + va_tanf_up_grant_standard: 300 + va_tanf_countable_income: 100 + county_str: PITTSYLVANIA_COUNTY_VA + output: + # TANF grant standard $400 - countable income $100 = $300, below the + # Group II maximum. The TANF-UP standard would give $300 - $100 = $200. + va_tanf: 300 - name: If tanf eligible, payment less than maximum payment, they get the difference. period: 2023 @@ -106,37 +122,37 @@ # Payment 15000 capped at Group II max: 12*722 = 8_664 va_tanf: 8_664 -# Group III TANF-UP: ceil(648*1.155)=749 -# Annual max = 12*749 = 8_988 +# TANF-UP units are capped at the TANF maximum. The 7/21 Section 304, +# Appendix 2 (Transmittal 71) maximum reimbursable payment is $820 in +# Group III and $688 in Group II. -- name: Group III TANF-UP capped at scaled max payment. - period: 2023 +- name: In January 2022 a Group III TANF-UP unit is capped at the TANF maximum. + period: 2022-01 input: va_tanf_eligibility: true va_up_tanf_eligibility: true - va_tanf_grant_standard: 0 - va_tanf_up_grant_standard: 15_000 + va_tanf_grant_standard: 1_500 + va_tanf_up_grant_standard: 1_500 va_tanf_countable_income: 0 county_str: ARLINGTON_COUNTY_VA output: - # Payment 15000 capped at Group III UP max: 12*749 = 8_988 - va_tanf: 8_988 + # ceil(745 * 1.1) = ceil(819.5) = 820 + # (the TANF-UP maximum would be ceil(648 * 1.1) = 713) + va_tanf: 820 -# Group II TANF-UP: ceil(544*1.155)=629 -# Annual max = 12*629 = 7_548 - -- name: Group II TANF-UP capped at scaled max payment. - period: 2023 +- name: In January 2022 a Group II TANF-UP unit is capped at the TANF maximum. + period: 2022-01 input: va_tanf_eligibility: true va_up_tanf_eligibility: true - va_tanf_grant_standard: 0 - va_tanf_up_grant_standard: 15_000 + va_tanf_grant_standard: 1_500 + va_tanf_up_grant_standard: 1_500 va_tanf_countable_income: 0 county_str: PITTSYLVANIA_COUNTY_VA output: - # Payment 15000 capped at Group II UP max: 12*629 = 7_548 - va_tanf: 7_548 + # ceil(625 * 1.1) = ceil(687.5) = 688 + # (the TANF-UP maximum would be ceil(544 * 1.1) = 599) + va_tanf: 688 - name: Payment below cap is not reduced. period: 2023 @@ -151,3 +167,48 @@ # Payment = 9600 - 1200 = 8400, Group III monthly max = 861 # Monthly payment = 700, which is below the cap va_tanf: 8_400 + +# Since July 2021 Virginia has one schedule of standards (TANF Manual +# Section 304, Appendix 2) for all units. January 2025 multiplier: 1.155 + +- name: In January 2025 a TANF-UP unit gets the TANF grant standard. + period: 2025-01 + input: + va_tanf_eligibility: true + va_up_tanf_eligibility: true + va_tanf_grant_standard: 500 + va_tanf_up_grant_standard: 400 + va_tanf_countable_income: 100 + county_str: ARLINGTON_COUNTY_VA + output: + # TANF grant standard $500 - countable income $100 = $400 + # (the TANF-UP standard would give $400 - $100 = $300) + va_tanf: 400 + +- name: In January 2025 a Group III TANF-UP unit is capped at the TANF maximum. + period: 2025-01 + input: + va_tanf_eligibility: true + va_up_tanf_eligibility: true + va_tanf_grant_standard: 1_500 + va_tanf_up_grant_standard: 1_500 + va_tanf_countable_income: 0 + county_str: ARLINGTON_COUNTY_VA + output: + # Group III TANF maximum: ceil(745 * 1.155) = ceil(860.475) = 861, the + # 7/22 Section 304, Appendix 2 (Transmittal 74) maximum of $861 + # (the TANF-UP maximum would be ceil(648 * 1.155) = 749) + va_tanf: 861 + +- name: In January 2025 a single-parent unit is unaffected. + period: 2025-01 + input: + va_tanf_eligibility: true + va_up_tanf_eligibility: false + va_tanf_grant_standard: 500 + va_tanf_up_grant_standard: 400 + va_tanf_countable_income: 100 + county_str: ARLINGTON_COUNTY_VA + output: + # TANF grant standard $500 - countable income $100 = $400 + va_tanf: 400 diff --git a/policyengine_us/variables/gov/states/va/dss/tanf/eligibility/va_tanf_income_eligibility.py b/policyengine_us/variables/gov/states/va/dss/tanf/eligibility/va_tanf_income_eligibility.py index a0d5f740104..641cb91236b 100644 --- a/policyengine_us/variables/gov/states/va/dss/tanf/eligibility/va_tanf_income_eligibility.py +++ b/policyengine_us/variables/gov/states/va/dss/tanf/eligibility/va_tanf_income_eligibility.py @@ -18,11 +18,14 @@ def formula(spm_unit, period, parameters): # Step 2: Countable income (after all deductions) <= Grant Standard countable_income = spm_unit("va_tanf_countable_income", period) - # Use appropriate grant standard based on UP eligibility + # Two-parent (TANF-UP) units are screened at the TANF standard unless + # the separate TANF-UP standards are in effect. + p_up = parameters(period).gov.states.va.dss.tanf.payment.up_grant_standard up_eligible = spm_unit("va_up_tanf_eligibility", period) + uses_up_standards = up_eligible & p_up.in_effect grant_standard = spm_unit("va_tanf_grant_standard", period) up_grant_standard = spm_unit("va_tanf_up_grant_standard", period) - applicable_grant = where(up_eligible, up_grant_standard, grant_standard) + applicable_grant = where(uses_up_standards, up_grant_standard, grant_standard) step2_pass = countable_income <= applicable_grant return step1_pass & step2_pass diff --git a/policyengine_us/variables/gov/states/va/dss/tanf/va_tanf.py b/policyengine_us/variables/gov/states/va/dss/tanf/va_tanf.py index dd1c87411a4..a2fd21fdd84 100644 --- a/policyengine_us/variables/gov/states/va/dss/tanf/va_tanf.py +++ b/policyengine_us/variables/gov/states/va/dss/tanf/va_tanf.py @@ -12,10 +12,14 @@ class va_tanf(Variable): def formula(spm_unit, period, parameters): # the calculated payment + # Two-parent (TANF-UP) units get the TANF standards unless the + # separate TANF-UP standards are in effect. + p_up = parameters(period).gov.states.va.dss.tanf.payment.up_grant_standard up_tanf_eligibility = spm_unit("va_up_tanf_eligibility", period) + uses_up_standards = up_tanf_eligibility & p_up.in_effect grant_standard = spm_unit("va_tanf_grant_standard", period) up_grant_standard = spm_unit("va_tanf_up_grant_standard", period) - grant = where(up_tanf_eligibility, up_grant_standard, grant_standard) + grant = where(uses_up_standards, up_grant_standard, grant_standard) countable_income = spm_unit("va_tanf_countable_income", period) payment = max_(grant - countable_income, 0) @@ -36,7 +40,7 @@ def formula(spm_unit, period, parameters): p_payment.grant_standard.group2.max, ) base_max = where( - up_tanf_eligibility, + uses_up_standards, up_tanf_base_max, tanf_base_max, ) diff --git a/source_conflicts/candidates.yaml b/source_conflicts/candidates.yaml index 843ddcbe21c..75747299b02 100644 --- a/source_conflicts/candidates.yaml +++ b/source_conflicts/candidates.yaml @@ -5417,6 +5417,40 @@ candidates: prs: [] state: unreviewed note: PE-US follows Virginia's regulation; verify the federal-fiscal-2024 report against the contemporaneous rule. +- id: us-va:tanf-up-standards-below-tanf + program: tanf + years: + from: 2021 + to: 2021 + type: state-fiscal + question: From July 2020 to June 2021, do two-parent (TANF-UP) families get the frozen TANF-UP standards of + assistance or at least the TANF standards? + sources: + - kind: statute + citation: 2020 Appropriation Act (HB 30, Chapter 1289), Item 350 C + url: https://budget.lis.virginia.gov/item/2020/1/HB30/Chapter/1/350/ + - kind: manual + citation: Virginia TANF Manual Transmittal 68 (July 1, 2020), Section 304, Appendix 3 + url: https://web.archive.org/web/20210202151340/https://www.dss.virginia.gov/files/division/bp/tanf/manual/Transmittal_68.pdf#page=6 + readings: + statute: The basic benefit payment for two-parent families "shall not be less than what they would have + received under TANF", so they get the TANF standards. + other: Two-parent families get the TANF-UP schedule in Appendix 3, which kept the July 2019 amounts while + TANF payments rose 15 percent. + example: A two-parent family of three in a Group II locality with no income gets $417 a month under the statute + reading and $363 under Appendix 3 in January 2021. + pe_us: + follows: statute + code: + - policyengine_us/parameters/gov/states/va/dss/tanf/payment/up_grant_standard/in_effect.yaml + - policyengine_us/variables/gov/states/va/dss/tanf/va_tanf.py + - policyengine_us/variables/gov/states/va/dss/tanf/eligibility/va_tanf_income_eligibility.py + prs: + - https://github.com/PolicyEngine/policyengine-us/pull/10253 + state: unreviewed + note: Transmittal 71 (July 1, 2021) removed Appendix 3, so the agency schedule applied only in state fiscal year + 2021 (July 2020 to June 2021). The 7/20 Chapter 900, Appendix II, Example 6 (a TANF-UP household of four in Group II) uses the $499 TANF + standard. Before July 2020 and from July 2021 the manual has one schedule for all units. - id: us-vt:low-income-cdcc-threshold-equality program: income-tax years: