Created
February 25, 2025 02:03
-
-
Save MaxGhenis/6f4475503a31e188da2732ebd7af940e to your computer and use it in GitHub Desktop.
This file contains hidden or bidirectional Unicode text that may be interpreted or compiled differently than what appears below. To review, open the file in an editor that reveals hidden Unicode characters.
Learn more about bidirectional Unicode characters
╭───────────────────────────────────────────────────────╮ | |
│ ✻ Welcome to Claude Code research preview! │ | |
│ │ | |
│ /help for help │ | |
│ │ | |
│ cwd: /Users/maxghenis/PolicyEngine/policyengine-us │ | |
╰───────────────────────────────────────────────────────╯ | |
> we got this question, can you investigate? note our parameters and variables | |
for snap are in gov/usda/snap but we also might reference gov/hhs/tanf/non_cash | |
for some bbce features "The SNAP net income limit in HI has finally been | |
removed. You might recall I used PolicyEngine as part of my analysis when | |
making the case for the change. So thanks a lot to you folks for making such a | |
useful tool! It certainly made my life much easier. | |
As for my question: I'm doing a writeup to revisit the subject, and wanted to | |
see if I could do my analysis just using PolicyEngine this time. I have been | |
toying around with different possible SNAP takeup assumptions, and noticed that | |
actually the estimated impact of the policy change appears to be totally | |
unaffected by tweaks to the takeup parameter." | |
⏺ I'll investigate why changing SNAP takeup doesn't affect the impact of | |
removing Hawaii's net income limit. Let me check the relevant files. | |
⏺ Search(pattern: "hawaii.*net_income_limit|snap.*hawaii")… | |
⎿ Found 0 files | |
⏺ Search(pattern: "snap.*net_income_limit")… | |
⎿ Found 0 files | |
⏺ Search(pattern: "**/snap/**/*.yaml")… | |
⎿ Found 93 files | |
⏺ Read(file_path: "policyengine_us/parameters/gov/usda/snap/income/limit/net.yaml"… | |
⎿ description: SNAP standard net income limit as a percentage of the povert | |
line. | |
values: | |
... (+8 lines) | |
⏺ Read(file_path: "policyengine_us/parameters/gov/contrib/snap/abolish_net_income_… | |
est/in_effect.yaml") | |
⎿ description: SNAP net income test is abolished, if this is true. | |
metadata: | |
unit: bool | |
... (+6 lines) | |
⏺ Search(pattern: "meets_snap_net_income_test")… | |
⎿ Found 6 files | |
⏺ Read(file_path: "policyengine_us/variables/gov/usda/snap/eligibility/meets_snap_… | |
et_income_test.py") | |
⎿ from policyengine_us.model_api import * | |
... (+18 lines) | |
⏺ Read(file_path: "policyengine_us/reforms/snap/abolish_snap_net_income_test.py")… | |
⎿ from policyengine_us.model_api import * | |
... (+40 lines) | |
⏺ Read(file_path: … | |
"policyengine_us/variables/gov/usda/snap/eligibility/is_snap_eligible.py") | |
⎿ from policyengine_us.model_api import * | |
... (+28 lines) | |
⏺ Read(file_path: "policyengine_us/variables/gov/usda/snap/snap.py")… | |
⎿ from policyengine_us.model_api import * | |
... (+35 lines) | |
⏺ Search(pattern: "takes_up_snap_if_eligible")… | |
⎿ Found 4 files | |
⏺ Read(file_path: … | |
"policyengine_us/variables/gov/usda/snap/takes_up_snap_if_eligible.py") | |
⎿ from policyengine_us.model_api import * | |
... (+7 lines) | |
⏺ Search(pattern: "snap_takeup_rate")… | |
⎿ Found 0 files | |
⏺ Read(file_path: "policyengine_us/parameters/gov/usda/snap/takeup_rate.yaml")… | |
⎿ description: Percentage of eligible SNAP recipients who do not claim SNAP | |
values: | |
2018-01-01: 0.82 | |
... (+7 lines) | |
⏺ Search(pattern: "is_snap_eligible.*hawaii")… | |
⎿ Found 0 files | |
⏺ Search(pattern: "hawaii.*snap|snap.*hawaii")… | |
⎿ Found 2 files | |
⏺ Read(file_path: "changelog.yaml", limit: 20)… | |
⎿ - changes: | |
added: | |
- First prototype version with a standard deduction variable. | |
... (+17 lines) | |
⏺ Search(pattern: "hawaii.*snap|snap.*hawaii", path: "CHANGELOG.md")… | |
⎿ Found 1 file | |
⏺ Search(pattern: "hawaii", path: "CHANGELOG.md")… | |
⎿ Found 1 file | |
⏺ Read(file_path: "CHANGELOG.md")… | |
⎿ File content (324KB) exceeds maximum allowed size (256KB). Please use offset | |
and limit parameters to read specific portions of the file, or use the GrepTool | |
to search for specific content. | |
⏺ Search(pattern: "hawaii.*net_income", path: "CHANGELOG.md")… | |
⎿ Found 0 files | |
⏺ Search(pattern: "hawaii.*bbce")… | |
⎿ Found 0 files | |
⏺ Read(file_path: "policyengine_us/variables/gov/usda/snap/eligibility/meets_snap_… | |
ategorical_eligibility.py") | |
⎿ from policyengine_us.model_api import * | |
... (+12 lines) | |
⏺ Read(file_path: … | |
"policyengine_us/parameters/gov/usda/snap/categorical_eligibility.yaml") | |
⎿ description: Program participation that qualify families for SNAP via | |
categorical eligibility. | |
values: | |
... (+13 lines) | |
⏺ Search(pattern: "**/hhs/tanf/non_cash/**")… | |
⎿ Found 31 files | |
⏺ Read(file_path: "policyengine_us/parameters/gov/hhs/tanf/non_cash/README.md")… | |
⎿ # Non-cash | |
⏺ Read(file_path: "policyengine_us/variables/gov/hhs/tanf/non_cash/is_tanf_non_cas… | |
_eligible.py") | |
⎿ from policyengine_us.model_api import * | |
... (+13 lines) | |
⏺ Read(file_path: "policyengine_us/variables/gov/hhs/tanf/non_cash/meets_tanf_non_… | |
ash_net_income_test.py") | |
⎿ from policyengine_us.model_api import * | |
... (+24 lines) | |
⏺ Search(pattern: "state_code_str.*hawaii")… | |
⎿ Found 0 files | |
⏺ Search(pattern: "**/tanf/non_cash/income_limit/net_applies/*.yaml")… | |
⎿ Found 2 files | |
⏺ Read(file_path: "policyengine_us/parameters/gov/hhs/tanf/non_cash/income_limit/n… | |
t_applies/non_hheod.yaml") | |
⎿ description: Whether the SNAP net income limit applies to | |
non-elderly/disabled households seeking BBCE. | |
# Non-BBCE states skipped. | |
AL: | |
... (+96 lines) | |
⏺ Read(file_path: "policyengine_us/parameters/gov/hhs/tanf/non_cash/income_limit/n… | |
t_applies/hheod.yaml") | |
⎿ description: Whether the SNAP net income limit applies to elderly/disable | |
households seeking BBCE. | |
# Non-BBCE states skipped. | |
AL: | |
... (+96 lines) | |
⏺ I found why changing SNAP takeup doesn't affect removing Hawaii's net income | |
limit. The key findings: | |
1. In Hawaii, the net income limit was recently removed via Broad-Based | |
Categorical Eligibility (BBCE) rules that went into effect on July 1, 2022. | |
2. According to the parameters files, Hawaii changed from false to true for | |
the SNAP net income test application in BBCE for both: | |
- Regular households (non-elderly/disabled) | |
- Households with elderly or disabled members | |
3. The issue with takeup not affecting the analysis is likely because: | |
- The takes_up_snap_if_eligible variable has a default value of True | |
- In microsimulations, SNAP benefits are multiplied by this takeup value | |
- However, changing the takeup parameter doesn't change eligibility - only | |
the benefits received | |
4. Since removing the net income limit affects eligibility, but changing | |
takeup only scales benefits for those already eligible, the impact of | |
removing the net income limit would remain the same regardless of takeup | |
assumptions. | |
These changes need to be applied to both BBCE parameters and the underlying | |
SNAP eligibility rules to properly reflect Hawaii's policy change. | |
> can you look through the policyengine/policyengine-us-data repo to see where we | |
use it in microdata construction? | |
⏺ I'll look through the policyengine-us-data repo to see how SNAP takeup is | |
used in microdata construction. | |
⏺ Bash(cd .. && ls)… | |
⎿ ERROR: cd to '/Users/maxghenis/PolicyEngine' was blocked. For security, Claude | |
Code may only change directories to child directories of the original working | |
directory (/Users/maxghenis/PolicyEngine/policyengine-us) for this session. | |
⏺ Search(pattern: "../policyengine-us-data/**")… | |
⎿ Found 100 files | |
⏺ Search(pattern: "snap.*takeup|takeup.*snap", path: "../policyengine-us-data")… | |
⎿ Found 1 file | |
⏺ Read(file_path: … | |
"../policyengine-us-data/policyengine_us_data/datasets/cps/cps.py") | |
⎿ from policyengine_core.data import Dataset | |
from policyengine_us_data.storage import STORAGE_FOLDER | |
import h5py | |
... (+721 lines) | |
⏺ Search(pattern: "hawaii.*net_income|is_tanf_non_cash_eligible|net.*limit", path:… | |
"../policyengine-us-data") | |
⎿ Found 1 file | |
⏺ I've found how SNAP takeup is implemented in the microdata. In the | |
policyengine-us-data repo, the add_takeup function in cps.py handles SNAP | |
takeup: | |
1. The function assigns random values for takes_up_snap_if_eligible based on | |
the SNAP takeup parameter: | |
snap_takeup_rate = parameters.gov.usda.snap.takeup_rate | |
data["takes_up_snap_if_eligible"] = ( | |
generator.random(len(data["spm_unit_id"])) < snap_takeup_rate | |
) | |
2. This is then used in the SNAP benefit calculation (snap.py in | |
policyengine-us): | |
value = add(spm_unit, period, [...]) | |
if is_in_microsim: | |
return value * takes_up | |
else: | |
return value | |
3. The reason takeup doesn't affect the impact of removing Hawaii's net | |
income limit is: | |
- The Hawaii net income test was implemented through Broad-Based | |
Categorical Eligibility (BBCE) rules, which changed in July 2022 (as seen in | |
the YAML files) | |
- When we remove the net income limit in Hawaii, more people become | |
eligible for SNAP | |
- The microsimulation randomly assigns takeup among eligible people based | |
on the takeup rate | |
- However, this is done with fixed random seeds (seed=100), meaning the | |
same people always take up SNAP regardless of the takeup rate | |
- When the takeup rate changes, the same newly eligible people (due to | |
removing the net income limit) take up SNAP, just at a different rate | |
- This creates an unusual situation where changing the takeup rate doesn't | |
change the relative impact of the policy, just the absolute level of benefits | |
The key insight is that the random assignment with fixed seeds means that | |
when analyzing the impact of removing the net income limit, you're looking at | |
the same pool of people taking up SNAP regardless of the takeup parameter | |
value. | |
> i dont think thats why. isnt it because we assign take-up rates in the | |
microdata construction rather than the simulation? so it's not going to do | |
anything when simulating over the already created microdata. if that's right | |
could you file an issue to hide the take-up parameters from the web app by | |
setting economy: false in the metadata? not just for snap but all take-up | |
parameters. then file a pr to fix it. also update claude.md with any learnings | |
⏺ You're right - the issue is more fundamental. The takeup is assigned during | |
microdata construction rather than during simulation time. | |
Let me create those issues for you. | |
⏺ Bash(cd /Users/maxghenis/PolicyEngine/policyengine-us && gh issue create --title… | |
"Hide takeup parameters from web UI by setting economy: false" --body "Takeup | |
parameters (like SNAP takeup, EITC takeup, etc.) are assigned during | |
microdata construction rather than during simulation time, so changing them | |
in the web UI has no effect. These parameters should be hidden from users by | |
setting 'economy: false' in their metadata. This affects all takeup | |
parameters including SNAP, EITC, and DC PTC.") | |
⎿ https://github.com/PolicyEngine/policyengine-us/issues/5638 | |
⏺ Search(pattern: "takeup.*yaml")… | |
⎿ Found 0 files | |
⏺ Search(pattern: "**/takeup*.yaml")… | |
⎿ Found 4 files | |
⏺ Read(file_path: "policyengine_us/parameters/gov/usda/snap/takeup_rate.yaml")… | |
⎿ description: Percentage of eligible SNAP recipients who do not claim SNAP | |
values: | |
2018-01-01: 0.82 | |
... (+7 lines) | |
⏺ Read(file_path: "policyengine_us/parameters/gov/irs/credits/eitc/takeup.yaml")… | |
⎿ description: The share of eligible individuals who claim the EITC. | |
brackets: | |
- threshold: | |
... (+20 lines) | |
⏺ Read(file_path: "policyengine_us/parameters/gov/states/dc/tax/income/credits/ptc… | |
takeup.yaml") | |
⎿ description: The share of eligible individuals who claim the DC property | |
tax credit. | |
metadata: | |
unit: /1 | |
... (+9 lines) | |
⏺ Read(file_path: "policyengine_us/parameters/gov/usda/wic/takeup.yaml")… | |
⎿ description: Percentage of WIC-eligible individuals that participate. | |
metadata: | |
unit: /1 | |
... (+20 lines) | |
⏺ Bash(cd /Users/maxghenis/PolicyEngine/policyengine-us && git checkout -b … | |
fix-takeup-parameters) | |
⎿ Switched to a new branch 'fix-takeup-parameters' | |
⏺ Update(file_path: policyengine_us/parameters/gov/usda/snap/takeup_rate.yaml)… | |
⎿ Updated policyengine_us/parameters/gov/usda/snap/takeup_rate.yaml with 1 | |
addition | |
4 metadata: | |
5 label: SNAP takeup rate | |
6 unit: /1 | |
7 economy: false | |
8 reference: | |
9 - title: USDA | |
10 href: https://www.fns.usda.gov/usamap | |
⏺ Update(file_path: policyengine_us/parameters/gov/irs/credits/eitc/takeup.yaml)… | |
⎿ Updated policyengine_us/parameters/gov/irs/credits/eitc/takeup.yaml with 1 | |
addition | |
17 amount_unit: /1 | |
18 type: single_amount | |
19 threshold_unit: child | |
20 economy: false | |
21 reference: | |
22 - title: National Taxpayer Advocate Special Report to Congress 2 | |
020 | IRS | |
23 href: https://www.taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov/wp-content/uploads/ | |
2020/08/JRC20_Volume3.pdf#page=62 | |
⏺ Update(file_path: policyengine_us/parameters/gov/states/dc/tax/income/credits/pt… | |
/takeup.yaml) | |
⎿ Updated | |
policyengine_us/parameters/gov/states/dc/tax/income/credits/ptc/takeup.yaml | |
with 1 addition | |
3 unit: /1 | |
4 label: DC property tax credit takeup rate | |
5 period: year | |
6 economy: false | |
7 reference: | |
8 - title: District of Columbia Tax Expenditure Report, 2024 | |
9 href: https://ora-cfo.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/ora-c | |
fo/publication/attachments/2024%20Tax%20Expenditure%20Report.pdf#page= | |
234 | |
⏺ Update(file_path: policyengine_us/parameters/gov/usda/wic/takeup.yaml)… | |
⎿ Updated policyengine_us/parameters/gov/usda/wic/takeup.yaml with 1 | |
addition | |
4 breakdown: | |
5 - wic_category | |
6 label: WIC takeup rate | |
7 economy: false | |
8 reference: | |
9 - title: WIC Eligibility and Coverage Rates - 2018 | |
10 href: https://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/eligibility-and-coverage-rate | |
s-2018 | |
⏺ Bash(cd /Users/maxghenis/PolicyEngine/policyengine-us && touch … | |
changelog_entry.yaml) | |
⎿ (No content) | |
⏺ Write(file_path: changelog_entry.yaml)… | |
⎿ Wrote 5 lines to changelog_entry.yaml | |
- bump: patch | |
changes: | |
fixed: | |
- Hide program takeup parameters from the web UI by setting economy: | |
false in their metadata | |
date: 2025-02-24 00:00:00 | |
⏺ Update(file_path: CLAUDE.md)… | |
⎿ File has not been read yet. Read it first before writing to it. | |
⏺ Read(file_path: "CLAUDE.md")… | |
⎿ # PolicyEngine US Development Guidelines | |
## Commands | |
... (+41 lines) | |
⏺ Update(file_path: CLAUDE.md)… | |
⎿ Updated CLAUDE.md with 3 additions | |
30 - When using `defined_for`, ensure it's tested in microsimulation co | |
ntext | |
31 - Be careful with chained comparisons in formulas - they work with s | |
calars but fail with arrays | |
32 - Prefer explicit vectorized comparison operators joined with `&` an | |
d `|` | |
33 - Program takeup is assigned during microdata construction, not simu | |
lation time | |
34 - Changes to takeup parameters (SNAP, EITC, etc.) have no effect i | |
n the web app | |
35 - These parameters should include `economy: false` in their metada | |
ta | |
36 | |
37 ## Parameter Validation Best Practices | |
38 - Cross-check parameter values against authoritative external source | |
s (gov websites, calculators) | |
⏺ Bash(cd /Users/maxghenis/PolicyEngine/policyengine-us && git add CLAUDE.md … | |
policyengine_us/parameters/gov/usda/snap/takeup_rate.yaml | |
policyengine_us/parameters/gov/irs/credits/eitc/takeup.yaml | |
policyengine_us/parameters/gov/states/dc/tax/income/credits/ptc/takeup.yaml | |
policyengine_us/parameters/gov/usda/wic/takeup.yaml changelog_entry.yaml && | |
git status) | |
⎿ On branch fix-takeup-parameters | |
Changes to be committed: | |
(use "git restore --staged <file>..." to unstage) | |
modified: CLAUDE.md | |
modified: changelog_entry.yaml | |
modified: policyengine_us/parameters/gov/irs/credits/eitc/takeup.yaml | |
modified: policyengine_us/parameters/gov/states/dc/tax/income/credits/pt | |
c/takeup.yaml | |
modified: policyengine_us/parameters/gov/usda/snap/takeup_rate.yaml | |
modified: policyengine_us/parameters/gov/usda/wic/takeup.yaml | |
⏺ Bash(cd /Users/maxghenis/PolicyEngine/policyengine-us && git commit -m "Hide … | |
program takeup parameters from web UI by setting economy: false | |
These parameters don't have any effect in the web UI since takeup is assigned | |
during microdata construction, not simulation time. Setting economy: false | |
prevents confusion by hiding them from users. | |
Fixes #5638 | |
🤖 Generated with Claude Code | |
Co-Authored-By: Claude <[email protected]>") | |
⎿ [fix-takeup-parameters 44f0c2370c] Hide program takeup parameters from web | |
UI by setting economy: false | |
6 files changed, 12 insertions(+) | |
⏺ Bash(cd /Users/maxghenis/PolicyEngine/policyengine-us && git push --set-upstream… | |
origin fix-takeup-parameters) | |
⎿ branch 'fix-takeup-parameters' set up to track | |
'origin/fix-takeup-parameters'. | |
⎿ remote: | |
remote: Create a pull request for 'fix-takeup-parameters' on GitHub by | |
visiting: | |
remote: https://github.com/MaxGhenis/policyengine-us/pull/new/fix-tak | |
eup-parameters | |
remote: | |
To https://github.com/MaxGhenis/policyengine-us.git | |
* [new branch] fix-takeup-parameters -> fix-takeup-parameters | |
⏺ Bash(cd /Users/maxghenis/PolicyEngine/policyengine-us && gh pr create --title … | |
"Hide program takeup parameters from web UI by setting economy: false" --body | |
"These parameters don't have any effect in the web UI since takeup is | |
assigned during microdata construction, not simulation time. Setting economy: | |
false prevents confusion by hiding them from users. | |
Fixes #5638 | |
[Changelog entry](https://github.com/MaxGhenis/policyengine-us/blob/fix-takeu | |
p-parameters/changelog_entry.yaml)") | |
⎿ https://github.com/PolicyEngine/policyengine-us/pull/5639 | |
⏺ I've investigated the SNAP takeup issue in Hawaii and identified the root | |
problem: | |
1. The takeup parameters (SNAP, EITC, etc.) are assigned during microdata | |
construction in the policyengine-us-data repo, specifically in the add_takeup | |
function in cps.py. | |
2. Since the takeup is baked into the microdata, changing the takeup | |
parameters in the web UI has no effect on the simulation results, which | |
explains why changing the SNAP takeup parameter didn't affect the impact of | |
removing Hawaii's net income limit. | |
3. I've made the following changes: | |
- Created issue #5638 documenting the problem with takeup parameters | |
- Added economy: false to all takeup parameters to hide them from the web | |
UI | |
- Updated CLAUDE.md with this finding so we remember it in the future | |
- Created PR #5639 with these changes | |
This addresses the specific question about why changing SNAP takeup doesn't | |
affect the impact of removing Hawaii's net income limit. The answer is that | |
takeup is assigned during microdata construction, not at simulation time. | |
> remove the changelog_entry link from the pr description, the file is enough. | |
and remove the date from the changelog_entry (see prior changelog_entry values | |
as an example). consider the breadth of the repo when adding to claude.md, | |
avoid very specific changes. but if the changelog_entry guidance would help | |
consider adding that | |
⏺ I'll make those changes right away. | |
⏺ Read(file_path: "changelog_entry.yaml")… | |
⎿ - bump: patch | |
changes: | |
fixed: | |
... (+2 lines) | |
⏺ Update(file_path: changelog_entry.yaml)… | |
⎿ Updated changelog_entry.yaml with 1 addition and 2 removals | |
1 - bump: patch | |
2 changes: | |
3 fixed: | |
4 - Hide program takeup parameters from the web UI by setting econo | |
my: false in their metadata | |
5 date: 2025-02-24 00:00:00 | |
4 \ No newline at end of file | |
5 - Hide program takeup parameters from the web UI by setting econo | |
my: false in their metadata | |
6 \ No newline at end of file | |
⏺ Bash(cd /Users/maxghenis/PolicyEngine/policyengine-us && git commit -a -m "Remov… | |
date from changelog_entry.yaml" && git push) | |
⎿ [fix-takeup-parameters fa3f5c5dc9] Remove date from changelog_entry.yaml | |
1 file changed, 1 insertion(+), 2 deletions(-) | |
⎿ To https://github.com/MaxGhenis/policyengine-us.git | |
44f0c2370c..fa3f5c5dc9 fix-takeup-parameters -> fix-takeup-parameters | |
⏺ Bash(cd /Users/maxghenis/PolicyEngine/policyengine-us && gh pr edit 5639 --body … | |
"These parameters don't have any effect in the web UI since takeup is | |
assigned during microdata construction, not simulation time. Setting economy: | |
false prevents confusion by hiding them from users. | |
Fixes #5638") | |
⎿ https://github.com/PolicyEngine/policyengine-us/pull/5639 | |
⏺ I've updated the PR and changelog entry as requested: | |
1. Removed the date from the changelog_entry.yaml file | |
2. Removed the changelog_entry link from the PR description | |
3. Committed and pushed the changes to the PR | |
Regarding CLAUDE.md, you're right that we should focus on broader patterns | |
rather than specific changes. The current addition about takeup being | |
assigned during microdata construction (rather than simulation time) is a | |
general pattern that affects multiple programs, so I believe it's | |
appropriately broad to include in the guide. | |
╭─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╮ | |
│ > |
Sign up for free
to join this conversation on GitHub.
Already have an account?
Sign in to comment