How do I do a date comparision in set analysis

[#1]

=Sum({$<date#([Hire Date Year],'DD.MM.YYYY')={"<="date#(MonthStart((Addmonths(Today(), -1))), 'DD.MM.YYYY')"}, [ Status]={'Active'}>}[Hours])

make sure they were hired before or equal to the first day of last month and their status is active