CMSgov/BenefitAssist

Benefit Assist

Benefit Assist server

Benefit Assist is an open source project originally developed by Intuit and donated to the Department of Health and Human services.

The service, built in Node.js, uses a rules based engine to determine the eligibility of an applicant based on a few pieces of input data. Currently, the service supports determining the eligibility for the following benefits:

• SNAP (food stamps)
• LIHEAP (discounted or low cost energy)
• Lifeline (discounted or low cost phone)
• Medicaid
• Medicare
• WIC
• Veterans pension
• Veterans health care
• GI Bill
• California low cost auto insurance
• Student loan repayment
• Unclaimed Funds

You can see a running demo @ http://benefitassist.info

Getting Started

Confirm you have the necessary components on your computer

• Node.js (v10 or greater) and npm
  • https://nodejs.org/en/
• Install Grunt client globally
  • sudo npm install -g grunt-cli
• Ask the administrator to send you the 'secrets.json' file. This file contains credentials to thirdparty APIs. (may not be applicable)
  • Copy secrets.json to server/config directory.
• Install the node module dependencies
  • cd server
  • npm install

Running Code:

• Start the node server. These steps should start node running on port 3000.
  • cd server
  • node app
• Fire it up with a POST command (content type MUST BE application/json)
  • curl -X POST -H "Content-Type: application/json" -d '{ "firstName" : "Greg", "lastName" : "Miller", "state" : "CA", "lastMonthTotalIncome" : 500 }' "http://localhost:3000/benefits/search"

Running Tests:

• Unit tests are written using Mocha. From the /server directory
  • JS Hint: grunt jshint
  • Unit tests: grunt test
  • Code coverage: grunt coverage

SourceTree Setup - optional (visual git interface for the command line impared):

• Sign up for an github account if you don't have one.
• Install SourceTree - https://www.sourcetreeapp.com/
• Sign in and go to File -> New/Clone
• Select New Repository -> clone from url. Enter https://github.com/CMSgov/BenefitAssist.git. Click OK

Webstorm (or IntelliJ) IDE Setup - optional (Best IDE for debugging Node.js code):

• Install WebStorm. https://www.jetbrains.com/webstorm/
• Open a Project. File -> Open -> /path/to/project on your computer
• Go to Run -> Edit Configurations
• Click on plus sign to add new configuration. Select Node.js
• Give any name (like 'Node Server') in ‘Name’ tab
• Select working directory : /path/to/server directory
• Select JavaScript file : app.js
• Accept other default values and click OK.
• Start the debugger. Run -> Debug -> <'Node Server' or whatever name you gave the configuration>