Documentation Index
Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs-terra.withunify.org/llms.txt
Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
Programs Database
The programs table is the heart of Pathfinder—a structured catalog of 2,500+ federal, state, and local benefit programs.
Schema Design
The programs table stores everything needed to display, search, filter, and match benefit programs.Program Categories
Programs are organized into categories that match how users think about their needs:Full-Text Search
Pathfinder uses PostgreSQL’s built-in full-text search with weighted rankings.Search Vector Setup
Search Query
websearchmode supports natural language queries- Weights prioritize name matches over description matches
- Tags enable synonym matching (e.g., “EBT” finds SNAP)
Geographic Filtering
Programs are filtered by geographic coverage at query time.Coverage Types
| Type | Example | Scope |
|---|---|---|
federal | SNAP | All states (coverage_states = ['*']) |
state | Texas Medicaid | Specific states (['TX']) |
county | Harris County Assistance | FIPS codes (['48201']) |
city | Austin Utility Rebate | FIPS + city filter |
Query Pattern
FIPS Code Resolution
Eligibility Rules Schema
Rules are stored as JSON for flexibility. The eligibility engine evaluates them at runtime.Example: SNAP Rules
Required Documents Schema
Each program specifies what documents are needed for application.Example
Common Queries
Get Programs by Category
Get Featured Programs (High-Value)
Get Programs with Deadlines
Data Sources
Programs data comes from multiple sources:| Source | Coverage | Update Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Benefits.gov | Federal programs | Monthly |
| State HHS websites | State programs | Quarterly |
| 211 databases | Local programs | Varies |
| Manual research | Gap filling | Ongoing |
source_url and last_verified_at fields track data provenance.
Next Steps
Eligibility Engine
How programs are matched to users
Search Implementation
Full-text search and autocomplete