spm_unit_capped_work_childcare_expenses is currently a hard national calibration target, but it is a Census SPM survey construct rather than an authoritative administrative total.
Why the current target is weak:
- Census defines
SPM_CAPWKCCXPNS as the SPM unit's capped work and child care expense, with separate survey variables for uncapped child care and uncapped work expenses.
- This is useful for preserving CPS/SPM alignment, but it is not comparable to admin-backed targets like IRS, SSA, CMS, or HHS program totals.
- There is no single authoritative administrative total for the combined SPM concept.
Potential replacements / diagnostics:
- HHS OCC CCDF caseload and expenditure data.
- TANF child care spending / CCDF transfers from ACF OFA.
- IRS Form 2441 dependent-care benefits and CDCC totals.
Proposed change:
- Remove
spm_unit_capped_work_childcare_expenses from the hard calibration target set.
- If we want external anchors here, add component-level diagnostics or soft targets using CCDF, TANF child-care spending, and IRS Form 2441 totals instead of forcing the combined CPS SPM measure.
Primary sources:
spm_unit_capped_work_childcare_expensesis currently a hard national calibration target, but it is a Census SPM survey construct rather than an authoritative administrative total.Why the current target is weak:
SPM_CAPWKCCXPNSas the SPM unit's capped work and child care expense, with separate survey variables for uncapped child care and uncapped work expenses.Potential replacements / diagnostics:
Proposed change:
spm_unit_capped_work_childcare_expensesfrom the hard calibration target set.Primary sources: