PolicyEngine / PolicyEngine/policyengine-us
HUD adjusted income is pre-HOTMA: deduction amounts, 10% medical threshold, dependent definition, and missing disability assistance deduction (24 CFR 5.611)
- Dominant language
- Python
- Stars
- 162
- Forks
- 212
- Avg merge
- 3d 3h
- Merged PRs (30d)
- 97
Description
## Background
HUD's HOTMA final rule (88 FR 9600, effective **2024-01-01**; universal mandatory PHA compliance **2025-07-01** per Notice PIH 2024-38) amended 24 CFR 5.611 adjusted income. The model's income side (24 CFR 5.609 source lists, dated 2024-01-01) is HOTMA-aligned, but `hud_adjusted_income` still applies pre-HOTMA rules, so 2024+ simulations mix post-HOTMA income definitions with pre-HOTMA deductions.
Verified against [24 CFR 5.611](https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/24/5.611), [24 CFR 5.603](https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/24/5.603), and the [HUD CY2026 inflationary adjustments](https://www.huduser.gov/portal/sites/default/files/datasets/inflationary-adjustments/CY2026-Revised-Amounts-And-Passbook-Rate.pdf) (2026-07-06):
## Gaps
1. **Elderly/disabled deduction is $400** (2001 value). § 5.611(a)(2): $525 effective 2024, CPI-W-indexed rounded down to a $25 multiple → $525 in 2025, **$550 in 2026**.
2. **Medical expense threshold is 3%**. § 5.611: combined unreimbursed health/medical + attendant care expenses are deductible only above **10% of annual income** (transitional 5%/7.5% phased hardship relief is individual-circumstance and reasonable to leave unmodeled).
3. **Dependent deduction counts children only** (`is_child`). § 5.603 dependent = family member (excluding foster members) other than head or spouse who is **under 18, disabled, or a full-time student**. The existing `is_hud_dependent` variable already implements this. Amount: $480 through 2025, **$500 in 2026**.
4. **Disability assistance deduction not implemented** (`# TODO: Attendant care` in `hud_adjusted_income.py`). § 5.611 deducts unreimbursed reasonable attendant care and auxiliary apparatus expenses (combined with medical under the single 10% threshold post-HOTMA), capped at the earned income of the 18+ members enabled to work.
## Effect
For elderly/disabled families with medical expenses, adjusted income (and thus TTP) is misstated: the too-small flat deductions push the voucher down, while the too-low 3% threshold pushes it up. Families with disabled-adult or adult-student dependents miss the dependent deduction entirely.
## Dating decision
Parameters should use dated entries at **2024-01-01** (regulatory effective date, matching the already-shipped § 5.609 income side), with a comment noting 2025-07-01 as the universal mandatory PHA compliance date. Pre-2024 years keep $400/$480/3%.
## Related
- #1053, #5164 (HUD income definition — the § 5.609 source-list portion has landed)
- Note: workers' compensation is deliberately **not** counted, per post-HOTMA § 5.609(b)(5) (insurance payments for personal losses, including workers' comp) — not a gap.
Contributor guide
Research direction
Start in hud_adjusted_income.py, inspect the existing is_hud_dependent logic and the TODO for attendant care, then compare the current deductions with 24 CFR 5.611 and 5.603. Done means dated 2024-01-01 parameters apply HOTMA deductions while pre-2024 values remain unchanged, including the disability assistance deduction and single 10% threshold.
Written by the indexing model from the issue text.
Assessment
- Tech stack
- python
- Domain
- backend
- Issue type
- Bug
- Difficulty
- 4/5
- Estimated time
- 3-5 days
- Activity status
- Quiet
- Clarity
- Mostly clear
- Newbie friendliness
- 55/100