Implement Rhode Island CCAP by hua7450 · Pull Request #7739 · PolicyEngine/policyengine-us

hua7450 · 2026-03-09T14:33:14Z

Summary

Implements Rhode Island's Starting RIght Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) in PolicyEngine, covering eligibility determination, income testing, co-payment calculation, provider rate caps, and subsidy computation.

Closes #7738

All RI CCAP variables use definition_period = MONTH (consistent with MA CCFA and TX CCS patterns). The aggregator ri_child_care_subsidies remains YEAR to feed into the federal child_care_subsidies.

Federal CCDF Infrastructure Reuse

This PR leverages federal CCDF variables from #7765:

is_ccdf_immigration_eligible_child — replaces state-specific immigration check
is_ccdf_asset_eligible — replaces state-specific asset check
child_care_subsidy_programs.yaml — RI added to federal program list

Regulatory Authority

218-RICR-20-00-4 -- CCAP Rules and Regulations (primary regulation, all sections)
2026 Family Income Co-Pay Chart -- FPL bracket thresholds and co-share percentages (effective 02/15/2026)
Licensed Center Weekly Rates -- Center provider rates (effective 07/01/2025)
Licensed Family Weekly Rates -- Family provider rates (effective 07/01/2024)
Licensed Exempt Weekly Rates -- Exempt provider rates (effective 01/01/2022)
R.I. Gen. Laws Ch. 40-6.2 -- Authorizing statute

Income Eligibility Tests

Initial Eligibility: <= 261% FPL

New applicants must have gross countable income at or below 261% of the Federal Poverty Level.

Source: 218-RICR-20-00-4, Section 4.6.1.A

Transitional Eligibility: <= 300% FPL (enrolled families only)

Families already receiving CCAP whose income rises above 261% FPL may continue receiving benefits up to 300% FPL at recertification. Uses ri_ccap_enrolled input variable to distinguish applicants from recipients.

Source: 218-RICR-20-00-4, Section 4.6.1.A.1

Exit Threshold: > 300% FPL

Benefits terminate when income exceeds 300% FPL.

Source: 218-RICR-20-00-4, Section 4.6.1.A

Asset Test: <= $1,000,000

Family assets must not exceed $1,000,000. Uses federal is_ccdf_asset_eligible (CCDBG Act of 2014).

Source: 218-RICR-20-00-4, Section 4.6.1.B

Child Age Eligibility

Under age 13 (base)
Under age 18 if disabled (exception for children with documented physical/mental disability incapable of self-care)
Source: 218-RICR-20-00-4, Section 4.3.1.A.1

Immigration Status (child only)

Child must be a US citizen or qualified immigrant. Parent citizenship is NOT required. Uses federal is_ccdf_immigration_eligible_child (8 U.S.C. § 1641).

Source: 218-RICR-20-00-4, Section 4.3.1.A.4

Income Deductions & Exemptions

RI CCAP uses gross countable income with NO earned income disregards or deductions. The only adjustments are excluded income types (omitted from the countable income sources list).

Countable Income Sources

Gross wages/salary, self-employment AGI, Social Security (RSDI), SSI, dividends, interest, rental income, pensions/annuities, veterans benefits, military retirement, unemployment compensation, workers' compensation, alimony, and child support received.

Source: 218-RICR-20-00-4, Section 4.2, Definition 30

Excluded Income (omitted from sources list)

USDA foods, relocation assistance, student financial aid, tribal payments, foster grandparent payments, SNAP, housing subsidies, home energy assistance, college work study, dependent child earned income, WIOA payments, EITC refunds, SSA PASS/IRWE, Veterans Aid/Attendant Allowances, Americorps/VISTA, RI Works cash assistance, Veterans Disability Pension, and others.

Source: 218-RICR-20-00-4, Section 4.2, Definition 23

Co-Payment Schedule

One co-payment per family regardless of number of children enrolled.

Level	FPL Range	Co-Share Rate
0	<= 100% FPL	0% of gross income
1	> 100% to <= 125% FPL	2% of gross income
2	> 125% to <= 150% FPL	5% of gross income
3	> 150% to <= 261% FPL	7% of gross income
4 (Transitional)	> 261% to <= 300% FPL	7% of gross income

Special $0 co-payment for:

Housing insecure families (Section 4.5.4.B)

Note: RI Works (TANF) recipients are not given a separate $0 co-payment exemption because their income (~37% FPL) falls in the 0% co-share bracket automatically.

Source: 218-RICR-20-00-4, Section 4.6.1.C; 2026 Co-Pay Chart

Benefit Calculation

CCAP Subsidy = min(max(childcare_expenses - copay, 0), max_weekly_rate * 52)

Where:

childcare_expenses = spm_unit_pre_subsidy_childcare_expenses (annual)
copay = co-share rate * ri_ccap_countable_income (annual, at SPM unit level)
max_weekly_rate = sum of per-child maximum weekly rates based on provider type, star/step rating, age category, and time authorization

Sources: 218-RICR-20-00-4, Section 4.12; Center Rates; Family Rates; Exempt Rates

Provider Rate Tables

Licensed Centers (July 2025) -- 80 rate cells

4 age categories (Infant/Toddler/Preschool/School Age) x 5 star ratings x 4 time authorizations

Source: Licensed Center Rates

Licensed Family (July 2024) -- 60 rate cells

3 age categories (Infant-Toddler/Preschool/School Age) x 5 star ratings x 4 time authorizations

Source: Licensed Family Rates

Licensed Exempt (January 2022) -- 48 rate cells

3 age categories (Infant-Toddler/Preschool/School Age) x 4 step ratings x 4 time authorizations

Source: Licensed Exempt Rates

Time Authorization Levels

Level	Hours/Week
Full Time (FT)	30+
Three Quarter Time (3QT)	20-29
Half Time (HT)	10-19
Quarter Time (QT)	0-9

Source: 218-RICR-20-00-4, Section 4.7.1.A.2

Requirements Coverage

REQ	Description	Parameter	Variable	Test
REQ-002	Child max age < 13	`age_threshold/child.yaml`	`ri_ccap_eligible_child.py`	`ri_ccap_eligible_child.yaml`
REQ-003	Disabled child age < 18	`age_threshold/disabled_child.yaml`	`ri_ccap_eligible_child.py`	`ri_ccap_eligible_child.yaml`
REQ-006	Child citizen/qualified immigrant	Federal `is_ccdf_immigration_eligible_child`	`ri_ccap_eligible_child.py`	`ri_ccap_eligible_child.yaml`
REQ-007	Parent citizenship not required	--	`ri_ccap_eligible_child.py` (child-only)	`ri_ccap_eligible_child.yaml`
REQ-008	Initial eligibility <= 261% FPL	`income/fpl_rate/initial_eligibility.yaml`	`ri_ccap_income_eligible.py`	`ri_ccap_income_eligible.yaml`
REQ-009	Transitional eligibility <= 300% FPL	`income/fpl_rate/transitional.yaml`	`ri_ccap_income_eligible.py`, `ri_ccap_enrolled.py`	`ri_ccap_income_eligible.yaml`
REQ-010	Exit threshold > 300% FPL	--	`ri_ccap_income_eligible.py`	`ri_ccap_income_eligible.yaml`
REQ-012	Countable income (gross sources)	`income/countable_income/sources.yaml`	`ri_ccap_countable_income.py`	`ri_ccap_income_eligible.yaml`
REQ-013	Excluded income types	`income/countable_income/sources.yaml` (comments)	`ri_ccap_countable_income.py` (omits excluded)	implicit
REQ-014	No deductions on gross income	--	`ri_ccap_countable_income.py` (adds only, no subtracts)	implicit
REQ-016	Asset test <= $1,000,000	Federal `is_ccdf_asset_eligible`	`ri_ccap_eligible.py`	`ri_ccap_eligible.yaml`
REQ-017	Activity req: employment 20 hrs/wk	`activity_requirements/weekly_hours.yaml`	`ri_ccap_activity_eligible.py`	`ri_ccap_activity_eligible.yaml`
REQ-020	Two-parent both meet 20 hrs	`activity_requirements/weekly_hours.yaml`	`ri_ccap_activity_eligible.py`	`ri_ccap_activity_eligible.yaml`
REQ-024	Co-share 0%/2%/5%/7% by FPL	`copay/rate.yaml`	`ri_ccap_copay.py`	`ri_ccap_copay.yaml`
REQ-025	One co-payment per family	--	`ri_ccap_copay.py` (SPMUnit-level)	`ri_ccap_copay.yaml`
REQ-028	Housing insecure $0 co-payment	--	`ri_ccap_copay.py`	`ri_ccap_copay.yaml`
REQ-029	Subsidy = expenses - copay, capped at rate	--	`ri_ccap.py`	`ri_ccap.yaml`, `integration.yaml`
REQ-030	Licensed center rates (80 cells)	`rates/center.yaml`	`ri_ccap_maximum_weekly_benefit.py`	`ri_ccap_maximum_weekly_benefit.yaml`
REQ-031	Licensed family rates (60 cells)	`rates/family.yaml`	`ri_ccap_maximum_weekly_benefit.py`	`ri_ccap_maximum_weekly_benefit.yaml`
REQ-032	Licensed exempt rates (48 cells)	`rates/exempt.yaml`	`ri_ccap_maximum_weekly_benefit.py`	`ri_ccap_maximum_weekly_benefit.yaml`
REQ-033	Time authorization FT/3QT/HT/QT	`time_authorization/thresholds.yaml`	`ri_ccap_time_category.py`	`ri_ccap_time_category.yaml`
REQ-040	2026 FPL via federal spm_unit_fpg	--	`ri_ccap_income_eligible.py`	`ri_ccap_income_eligible.yaml`

22/22 in-scope requirements covered.

Not Modeled

REQ	Description	Reason
REQ-001	Child min age >= 6 weeks	Too granular for microsimulation
REQ-004	Age 13 during certification period	Certification period timing not modeled
REQ-005	RI residency	Handled via `defined_for = StateCode.RI`
REQ-011	85% SMI reporting trigger	Administrative reporting requirement
REQ-015	Prospective budgeting (weekly x 4.3333)	PolicyEngine uses annual income
REQ-021	Child support cooperation	Administrative requirement
REQ-022	RI Works categorical eligibility	RI Works families (~37% FPL) pass CCAP income test (261% FPL) and copay bracket (0% under 100% FPL) automatically
REQ-023	RI Works two-parent employment plans	Administrative requirement
REQ-027	RI Works $0 co-payment	Redundant: RI Works families are under 100% FPL, so copay rate = 0% via bracket
REQ-023	RI Works two-parent employment plans	Administrative requirement
REQ-026	Co-share assigned to youngest child	Provider-level distribution; SPMUnit total is what matters
REQ-034	Travel time addition up to 1 hr/day	Administrative adjustment
REQ-035	Financial unit definition	SPM unit used as proxy
REQ-036	24-month certification period	Temporal/administrative
REQ-037	Job search 3-month temp authorization	Time-limited administrative provision
REQ-038	Change in status 3-month grace	Time-limited administrative provision
REQ-039	Health condition 6-month extension	Time-limited administrative provision

Files Added

Parameters (15 files)

policyengine_us/parameters/gov/states/ri/dhs/ccap/
  age_threshold/
    child.yaml                          # Max age 13
    disabled_child.yaml                 # Max age 18 (disabled)
  age_group/
    center/
      infant_max.yaml                   # Center infant age boundary (1.5 yrs = 18 months)
      toddler_max.yaml                  # Center toddler age boundary
    family/
      infant_toddler_max.yaml           # Family infant/toddler age boundary
  activity_requirements/
    weekly_hours.yaml                   # 20 hrs/wk minimum
  copay/
    rate.yaml                           # Scale: FPL ratio -> 0%/2%/5%/7%
  income/
    countable_income/
      sources.yaml                      # 14 income variable list
    fpl_rate/
      initial_eligibility.yaml          # 2.61
      transitional.yaml                 # 3.00
  rates/
    center.yaml                         # 80 cells (4 age x 5 star x 4 time)
    family.yaml                         # 60 cells (3 age x 5 star x 4 time)
    exempt.yaml                         # 48 cells (3 age x 4 step x 4 time)
  time_authorization/
    thresholds.yaml                     # FT/3QT/HT/QT hour thresholds

Variables (16 files)

policyengine_us/variables/gov/states/ri/dhs/ccap/
  ri_ccap.py                            # Main benefit (SPMUnit)
  ri_child_care_subsidies.py            # Aggregator for childcare_expenses.py
  ri_ccap_countable_income.py           # Gross income (adds pattern)
  ri_ccap_enrolled.py                   # Bare input: enrolled flag
  ri_ccap_provider_type.py              # Enum: center/family/exempt
  ri_ccap_star_rating.py                # Input: 1-5 star rating
  ri_ccap_step_rating.py                # Input: 1-4 step rating
  ri_ccap_time_category.py              # Derived: FT/3QT/HT/QT
  ri_ccap_center_age_group.py           # Center age category
  ri_ccap_family_age_group.py           # Family/exempt age category
  ri_ccap_maximum_weekly_benefit.py     # Per-child max rate lookup
  eligibility/
    ri_ccap_eligible.py                 # Overall eligibility (SPMUnit)
    ri_ccap_eligible_child.py           # Child eligibility (Person)
    ri_ccap_income_eligible.py          # Income test with entry/transitional
    ri_ccap_activity_eligible.py        # Activity/work requirement (20 hrs/wk)
  copay/
    ri_ccap_copay.py                    # Family copay with FPL rate calc (SPMUnit)

Tests (18 files)

policyengine_us/tests/policy/baseline/gov/states/ri/dhs/ccap/
  ri_ccap.yaml                          # 6 benefit cases
  ri_ccap_time_category.yaml            # 10 time authorization cases
  ri_ccap_center_age_group.yaml         # Center age group cases
  ri_ccap_family_age_group.yaml         # Family age group cases
  ri_ccap_maximum_weekly_benefit.yaml   # 12 rate lookup cases
  integration.yaml                      # 7 end-to-end scenarios
  eligibility/
    ri_ccap_eligible.yaml               # Overall eligibility cases
    ri_ccap_eligible_child.yaml         # Child age + disability cases
    ri_ccap_income_eligible.yaml        # FPL threshold cases
    ri_ccap_activity_eligible.yaml      # Activity requirement cases
  copay/
    ri_ccap_copay.yaml                  # Copay calculation cases
  edge_cases/
    ri_ccap.yaml                        # Benefit edge cases
    ri_ccap_eligible_child.yaml         # Child eligibility boundaries
    ri_ccap_time_category.yaml          # Time category boundaries
    ri_ccap_eligible.yaml               # Eligibility edge cases
    ri_ccap_copay.yaml                  # Copay edge cases
    ri_ccap_maximum_weekly_benefit.yaml # Rate lookup edge cases
    ri_ccap_income_eligible.yaml        # Income threshold boundaries

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.6 <noreply@anthropic.com>

codecov · 2026-03-09T15:52:20Z

Codecov Report

✅ All modified and coverable lines are covered by tests.
✅ Project coverage is 100.00%. Comparing base (19ec305) to head (6975ead).
⚠️ Report is 8 commits behind head on main.

Additional details and impacted files

@@            Coverage Diff             @@
##              main     #7739    +/-   ##
==========================================
  Coverage   100.00%   100.00%            
==========================================
  Files            3        16    +13     
  Lines           33       249   +216     
==========================================
+ Hits            33       249   +216

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…SDI/survivors income - disabled_child.yaml: keep value at 18 (matches law), fix formula to use <= instead of < - sources.yaml: add social_security_disability and social_security_survivors (RSDI) - Update tests for corrected disabled child age boundary Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.6 <noreply@anthropic.com>

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.6 <noreply@anthropic.com>

…into ri-ccap

hua7450 and others added 3 commits March 9, 2026 10:33

Initialize RI CCAP implementation

a62d7d2

Implement Rhode Island CCAP (ref PolicyEngine#7738)

982d675

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.6 <noreply@anthropic.com>

Add changelog fragment for RI CCAP

80b59a2

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.6 <noreply@anthropic.com>

hua7450 and others added 3 commits March 9, 2026 12:05

Add lessons from Rhode Island CCAP implementation

f8a36c8

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.6 <noreply@anthropic.com>

Merge branch 'main' of https://github.com/PolicyEngine/policyengine-us …

0fc3a86

…into ri-ccap

This was referenced Mar 12, 2026

Create federal CCDF infrastructure for scaling CCAP to all states #7764

Closed

Add federal CCDF infrastructure for scaling CCAP to all states hua7450/policyengine-us#29

Closed

Add federal CCDF infrastructure for scaling CCAP to all states #7765

Merged

hua7450 added 3 commits March 15, 2026 22:07

Merge branch 'main' of https://github.com/PolicyEngine/policyengine-us …

2c2d3bf

…into ri-ccap

adjustments

160673a

fix

6975ead

hua7450 marked this pull request as ready for review March 16, 2026 03:52

hua7450 requested a review from PavelMakarchuk March 16, 2026 17:24

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Implement Rhode Island CCAP#7739

Implement Rhode Island CCAP#7739
hua7450 wants to merge 9 commits intoPolicyEngine:mainfrom
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Summary

Federal CCDF Infrastructure Reuse

Regulatory Authority

Income Eligibility Tests

Initial Eligibility: <= 261% FPL

Transitional Eligibility: <= 300% FPL (enrolled families only)

Exit Threshold: > 300% FPL

Asset Test: <= $1,000,000

Child Age Eligibility

Immigration Status (child only)

Income Deductions & Exemptions

Countable Income Sources

Excluded Income (omitted from sources list)

Co-Payment Schedule

Benefit Calculation

Provider Rate Tables

Licensed Centers (July 2025) -- 80 rate cells

Licensed Family (July 2024) -- 60 rate cells

Licensed Exempt (January 2022) -- 48 rate cells

Time Authorization Levels

Requirements Coverage

Not Modeled

Files Added

Parameters (15 files)

Variables (16 files)

Tests (18 files)

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hua7450 commented Mar 9, 2026 •

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