Document SNAP work requirement modeling simplifications and fix mislabeled HR1 parameter

changelog.d/snap-work-requirements-documentation.changed.md

@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Document SNAP work requirement modeling simplifications (ABAWD 3-in-36 time limit, voluntary quit, annual hours and unemployment compensation proxies) and correct the mislabeled HR1 ABAWD in-effect parameter.

policyengine_us/parameters/gov/usda/snap/work_requirements/abawd/in_effect.yaml

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-description: The Department of Agriculture removes the exemption from Able-Bodied Adult Without Dependents (ABAWD) work requirements for homeless individuals or veterans under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, if this is true.
+description: The HR1 changes to Able-Bodied Adult Without Dependents (ABAWD) work requirements under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program are in effect when this is true, including the higher exempted age threshold, the lower dependent child age threshold, the removal of the exemptions for homeless individuals and veterans, and the addition of the exemptions for Indians, Urban Indians, and California Indians.
 
 values:
   0000-01-01: false
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ values:
 metadata:
   unit: bool
   period: year
-  label: SNAP ABAWD work requirement exemption removed for homeless or veterans
+  label: SNAP ABAWD HR1 work requirement changes in effect
   reference:
     - title: Public Law 119-21, Section 10102(a) - Modifications to SNAP ABAWD Requirements
       href: https://www.congress.gov/119/plaws/publ21/PLAW-119publ21.pdf#page=81

policyengine_us/variables/gov/usda/snap/eligibility/work_requirements/is_snap_work_registration_exempt_non_age.py

@@ -36,6 +36,9 @@ def formula(person, period, parameters):
         # (v) Receiving unemployment compensation — 7 CFR 273.7(b)(1)(v)
         # also exempts applicants who have applied but not yet received
         # UI; we are not tracking that yet.
+        # Simplification: any UC receipt during the year exempts the person
+        # in all months of that year, since survey data lack monthly UC
+        # receipt histories.
         receiving_ui = person("unemployment_compensation", period.this_year) > 0
         return (
             is_disabled

policyengine_us/variables/gov/usda/snap/eligibility/work_requirements/meets_snap_abawd_work_requirements.py

@@ -6,6 +6,23 @@ class meets_snap_abawd_work_requirements(Variable):
     entity = Person
     label = "Person is eligible for SNAP benefits via Able-Bodied Adult Without Dependents (ABAWD) work requirements"
     definition_period = MONTH
+    documentation = (
+        "Whether the person meets the Able-Bodied Adult Without Dependents "
+        "(ABAWD) work requirements or is exempt from them. Modeling "
+        "simplification (3-in-36 time limit): under 7 CFR 273.24(b), a "
+        "noncompliant ABAWD loses eligibility only after receiving benefits "
+        "for 3 countable months within a 36-month period; eligibility can be "
+        "regained by working 80 hours in a 30-day period (273.24(d)), and "
+        "individuals who regain and then lose work qualify for one additional "
+        "3-consecutive-month allotment per 36-month period (273.24(e)). The "
+        "model does not track month-counting histories, so it treats "
+        "noncompliance as immediate monthly ineligibility. This is a "
+        "steady-state assumption: it is accurate for ABAWDs who have already "
+        "exhausted their 3 countable months, but overstates ineligibility "
+        "for new noncompliance spells. The overstatement is largest in "
+        "FY2026, when HR1 (P.L. 119-21) restarts time-limit clocks for newly "
+        "covered populations."
+    )
     reference = (
         "https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/7/273.24",
         "https://www.congress.gov/119/plaws/publ21/PLAW-119publ21.pdf#page=81",
@@ -23,7 +40,10 @@ def formula(person, period, parameters):
             p.age_threshold.exempted.calc(age),
             p_pre.age_threshold.exempted.calc(age),
         )
-        # Work activity
+        # Work activity — 7 CFR 273.24(a)(1) defines compliance monthly
+        # (20 hours per week averaged monthly, i.e., 80 hours per month).
+        # Annual average weekly hours are used as a proxy since survey
+        # data lack monthly work histories.
         weekly_hours_worked = person("weekly_hours_worked_before_lsr", period.this_year)
         is_working = weekly_hours_worked >= p.weekly_hours_threshold
         # (B) Disability — 7 U.S.C. 2015(o)(3)(B)

policyengine_us/variables/gov/usda/snap/eligibility/work_requirements/meets_snap_general_work_requirements.py

@@ -6,11 +6,21 @@ class meets_snap_general_work_requirements(Variable):
     entity = Person
     label = "Person is eligible for SNAP benefits via general work requirements"
     definition_period = MONTH
+    documentation = (
+        "Whether the person meets the SNAP general work requirements or is "
+        "exempt from them. Non-modeled provision: voluntary quit and reduced "
+        "work effort disqualifications (7 CFR 273.7(j)) are not modeled, "
+        "because job-separation events are unobservable in cross-sectional "
+        "survey data."
+    )
     reference = "https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/7/273.7"
 
     def formula(person, period, parameters):
         p = parameters(period).gov.usda.snap.work_requirements.general
         age = person("monthly_age", period)
+        # 7 CFR 273.7(b)(1)(vii) exempts persons working 30 or more hours
+        # per week, determined monthly. Annual average weekly hours are
+        # used as a proxy since survey data lack monthly work histories.
         weekly_hours_worked = person("weekly_hours_worked_before_lsr", period.this_year)
         # Under 16 or 60 years of age or older are exempted
         worked_exempted_age = p.age_threshold.exempted.calc(age)