Stop the California state supplement from adding the no-cooking allowance to the blind rates

changelog.d/ca-ssp-blind-food-allowance.fixed.md

@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Stop the California state supplement from adding the no-cooking food allowance to the blind rates: a couple of an aged or disabled person and a blind person who is neither aged nor disabled gets the one-blind couple rate alone, and the allowance counts only where the aged or disabled amount with it is higher (WIC 12200(e)).

policyengine_us/tests/policy/baseline/gov/states/ca/cdss/state_supplement/ca_state_supplement_food_allowance.yaml

@@ -98,3 +98,162 @@
     state_code: CA
   output:
     ca_state_supplement_food_allowance: 1_632
+
+- name: 2026 couple of an aged person and a blind person under 65 without cooking facilities gets no food allowance
+  period: 2026-01
+  absolute_error_margin: 0.01
+  input:
+    people:
+      person1:
+        age: 70
+        is_tax_unit_head: true
+      person2:
+        age: 50
+        is_tax_unit_spouse: true
+        is_blind: true
+    spm_units:
+      spm_unit:
+        members: [person1, person2]
+    households:
+      household:
+        members: [person1, person2]
+        state_code: CA
+        living_arrangements_allow_for_food_preparation: false
+  output:
+    # The couple is paid the one-blind rate (WIC 12200(b)), and 12200(e)
+    # gives the allowance only under (c) or (d): no food allowance. The
+    # aged amount with the allowance, 1,233.94 + 128.87 = 1,362.81, is below
+    # the one-blind couple amount, so the standard is 2,238.44.
+    ca_state_supplement_food_allowance: 0
+    ca_state_supplement_payment_standard: 2_238.44
+
+- name: 2026 aged couple with one blind spouse without cooking facilities gets the aged couple amount with the food allowance
+  period: 2026-01
+  absolute_error_margin: 0.01
+  input:
+    people:
+      person1:
+        age: 70
+        is_tax_unit_head: true
+        is_blind: true
+      person2:
+        age: 68
+        is_tax_unit_spouse: true
+    spm_units:
+      spm_unit:
+        members: [person1, person2]
+    households:
+      household:
+        members: [person1, person2]
+        state_code: CA
+        living_arrangements_allow_for_food_preparation: false
+  output:
+    # Both spouses are aged, so the couple also qualifies under WIC 12200(d)
+    # with the (e) allowance: 2,098.83 + 257.74 = 2,356.57, above the
+    # one-blind rate of 2,238.44. California pays the highest category, so
+    # the allowance adds 2,356.57 - 2,238.44 = 118.13 to the blind amount.
+    ca_state_supplement_food_allowance: 118.13
+    ca_state_supplement_payment_standard: 2_356.57
+
+- name: 2026 single aged and blind person without cooking facilities gets the higher of the blind amount and the aged amount with the food allowance
+  period: 2026-01
+  absolute_error_margin: 0.01
+  input:
+    people:
+      person1:
+        age: 70
+        is_tax_unit_head: true
+        is_blind: true
+    spm_units:
+      spm_unit:
+        members: [person1]
+    households:
+      household:
+        members: [person1]
+        state_code: CA
+        living_arrangements_allow_for_food_preparation: false
+  output:
+    # The aged amount with the (e) allowance, 1,233.94 + 128.87 = 1,362.81,
+    # is above the blind amount of 1,318.32 (WIC 12200(a), (c), (e)). The
+    # allowance adds 1,362.81 - 1,318.32 = 44.49 to the blind amount.
+    ca_state_supplement_food_allowance: 44.49
+    ca_state_supplement_payment_standard: 1_362.81
+
+- name: 2026 aged couple with both spouses blind without cooking facilities gets the aged couple amount with the food allowance
+  period: 2026-01
+  absolute_error_margin: 0.01
+  input:
+    people:
+      person1:
+        age: 70
+        is_tax_unit_head: true
+        is_blind: true
+      person2:
+        age: 68
+        is_tax_unit_spouse: true
+        is_blind: true
+    spm_units:
+      spm_unit:
+        members: [person1, person2]
+    households:
+      household:
+        members: [person1, person2]
+        state_code: CA
+        living_arrangements_allow_for_food_preparation: false
+  output:
+    # The aged couple amount with the (e) allowance, 2,098.83 + 257.74 =
+    # 2,356.57, is above the two-blind rate of 2,324.35 (WIC 12200(a), (d),
+    # (e)). The allowance adds 2,356.57 - 2,324.35 = 32.22.
+    ca_state_supplement_food_allowance: 32.22
+    ca_state_supplement_payment_standard: 2_356.57
+
+- name: 2026 couple of a disabled person and a blind person under 65 without cooking facilities gets no food allowance
+  period: 2026-01
+  absolute_error_margin: 0.01
+  input:
+    people:
+      person1:
+        age: 50
+        is_tax_unit_head: true
+        is_disabled: true
+        meets_ssi_disability_criteria: true
+      person2:
+        age: 45
+        is_tax_unit_spouse: true
+        is_blind: true
+    spm_units:
+      spm_unit:
+        members: [person1, person2]
+    households:
+      household:
+        members: [person1, person2]
+        state_code: CA
+        living_arrangements_allow_for_food_preparation: false
+  output:
+    # As for an aged person: the one-blind couple rate under WIC 12200(b),
+    # 2,238.44, is above 1,233.94 + 128.87 = 1,362.81, and (e) adds nothing.
+    ca_state_supplement_food_allowance: 0
+    ca_state_supplement_payment_standard: 2_238.44
+
+- name: 2025 single aged and blind person without cooking facilities gets the aged amount with the food allowance
+  period: 2025-01
+  absolute_error_margin: 0.01
+  input:
+    people:
+      person1:
+        age: 70
+        is_tax_unit_head: true
+        is_blind: true
+    spm_units:
+      spm_unit:
+        members: [person1]
+    households:
+      household:
+        members: [person1]
+        state_code: CA
+        living_arrangements_allow_for_food_preparation: false
+  output:
+    # 1,206.94 + 128.87 = 1,335.81 is above the 2025 blind amount of 1,291.32,
+    # so the allowance adds 1,335.81 - 1,291.32 = 44.49.
+    ca_state_supplement_food_allowance: 44.49
+    ca_state_supplement_payment_standard: 1_335.81

policyengine_us/tests/policy/baseline/gov/states/ca/cdss/state_supplement/integration.yaml

@@ -48,7 +48,11 @@
         state_code: CA
         living_arrangements_allow_for_food_preparation: false
   output:
-    ca_state_supplement_payment_standard: 2_639
+    # Both spouses are aged, so the couple takes the higher of the one-blind
+    # rate, 1,295, and the aged couple amount with the food allowance, 1,167
+    # + 136 = 1,303 (WIC 12200(b), (d), (e)). With the 499 dependent amount
+    # and the 709 out-of-home care amount: 1,303 + 499 + 709 = 2,511.
+    ca_state_supplement_payment_standard: 2_511
 
 - name: Case A ,single disabled parent with non eligible dependent child.
   period: 2025-01

policyengine_us/variables/gov/states/ca/cdss/state_supplement/payment_standard/ca_state_supplement_food_allowance.py

@@ -4,11 +4,20 @@
 class ca_state_supplement_food_allowance(Variable):
     value_type = float
     entity = SPMUnit
-    label = "California SSI state supplement food allowance"
+    label = "California SSI state supplement food allowance above the blind amount"
+    documentation = (
+        "The part of the no-cooking (restaurant meals) allowance that lifts the "
+        "aged or disabled amount above the blind amount, since California pays "
+        "the higher of the two. It is the full allowance unless the unit's blind "
+        "amount is higher than its aged or disabled amount."
+    )
     unit = USD
     definition_period = MONTH
     defined_for = "ca_state_supplement_food_allowance_eligible"
-    reference = "https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=WIC&sectionNum=12200"
+    reference = (
+        "https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=WIC&sectionNum=12200",
+        "https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0501415058",
+    )
 
     def formula(spm_unit, period, parameters):
         p = parameters(period).gov.states.ca.cdss.state_supplement.payment_standard
@@ -17,8 +26,24 @@ def formula(spm_unit, period, parameters):
             "ca_state_supplement_aged_disabled_count", period
         )
         # Food allowance amount
-        return where(
+        allowance = where(
             is_married & (aged_disabled_count == 2),
             p.allowance.food.married,
             p.allowance.food.single,
         )
+        # WIC 12200(e) adds the allowance only to the aged or disabled amount
+        # under (c) or (d), not to the blind amounts under (a) or (b), and
+        # California pays the highest category (POMS SI 01415.058 B.2.a note).
+        # So the allowance counts only as far as it lifts the aged or disabled
+        # amount above the blind amount; a couple of an aged person and a blind
+        # person who is neither aged nor disabled gets none. POMS code C adds
+        # the individual allowance for that couple; PolicyEngine follows the
+        # statute (ruled 2026-10-29, PR 10379 comment 6509402355).
+        aged_disabled_amount = spm_unit(
+            "ca_state_supplement_aged_disabled_amount", period
+        )
+        # The higher of the blind and the aged or disabled amounts.
+        aged_blind_disabled_amount = spm_unit(
+            "ca_state_supplement_aged_blind_disabled_amount", period
+        )
+        return max_(aged_disabled_amount + allowance - aged_blind_disabled_amount, 0)

source_conflicts/candidates.yaml

@@ -1394,9 +1394,9 @@ candidates:
     other: POMS adds the individual restaurant meals allowance for the aged or disabled member of a couple with one
       blind member whose living arrangement lacks cooking facilities.
   example: In January 2026, a couple of an aged person and a blind person aged 50 without cooking facilities has a
-    $2,238.44 standard under the statute, which PE-US follows for CAPI, and $2,367.31 under POMS.
+    $2,238.44 standard under the statute, which PE-US follows, and $2,367.31 under POMS.
   pe_us:
-    follows: conflicting-source
+    follows: statute
     code:
     - policyengine_us/variables/gov/states/ca/cdss/capi/_ca_capi_ssi_ssp_standard.py
     - policyengine_us/variables/gov/states/ca/cdss/state_supplement/payment_standard/ca_state_supplement_food_allowance.py
@@ -1412,12 +1412,10 @@ candidates:
   note: 'Ruled 2026-10-29 for the statute by the project lead for the Medicaid fixes; the ruling record is
     https://github.com/PolicyEngine/policyengine-us/pull/10379#issuecomment-6509402355. WIC 12200(e) gives the
     no-cooking allowance only under (c) and (d), so a couple paid the one-blind rate under (b) gets none, in CAPI and
-    in the state supplement. CAPI follows the statute: _ca_capi_ssi_ssp_standard.py adds no food allowance to the
-    one-blind couple rate, and a couple both aged or disabled takes the aged or disabled rate with the couple
-    allowance when that is higher. Until PolicyEngine/policyengine-us#10546 merges, the state supplement follows
-    POMS: ca_state_supplement_food_allowance.py adds the individual allowance for the aged or disabled member, so in
-    January 2026 the same couple has a $2,367.31 standard as citizens and $2,238.44 as CAPI recipients. That PR
-    makes the state supplement follow the statute and sets pe_us.follows to statute.'
+    in the state supplement. CAPI (_ca_capi_ssi_ssp_standard.py) and the state supplement
+    (ca_state_supplement_food_allowance.py) both follow the statute: neither adds a food allowance to the one-blind
+    couple rate, and a couple both aged or disabled takes the aged or disabled rate with the couple allowance when
+    that is higher.'
 - id: us-ca:ssp-nmohc-couple-standard
   program: ssi-ssp
   years: