[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 134 (Wednesday, July 14, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40771-40774]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-17183]
[[Page 40771]]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food and Nutrition Service
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection;
Comment Request--Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Forms:
Applications, Periodic Reporting and Notices
AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this
notice invites the general public and other public agencies to comment
on the proposed collection. This collection is a revision of the
currently approved burden for the applications, periodic reporting, and
notices burden calculations for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance
Program (SNAP), formerly known as the Food Stamp Program, which also
reflects corrections resulting from the changes in recently published
SNAP regulations.
DATES: Written comments must be received on or before September 13,
2010.
ADDRESSES: Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection
of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions
of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the
proposed collection of information including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality,
utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; (d) ways to
minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who
respond, including through the use of appropriate automated,
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or
other forms of information technology.
Comments may be sent to Angela Kline, Chief, Certification Policy
Branch, Program Development Division, Food and Nutrition Service, U.S.
Department of Agriculture, 3101 Park Center Drive, Room 812,
Alexandria, VA 22302. Comments may also be faxed to the attention of
Ms. Kline at (703) 305-2486.
Comments will also be accepted through the Federal eRulemaking
Portal. Go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow the online
instructions for submitting comments electronically.
All written comments will be open for public inspection at the
office of the Food and Nutrition Service during regular business hours
(8:30 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday) at 3101 Park Center Drive,
Alexandria, Virginia, 22302, Room 800.
All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the
request for the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval. All
comments will be a matter of public record.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information
should be directed to Ms. Kline at (703) 305-2495.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Forms:
Applications, Periodic Reporting and Notices.
OMB Number: 0584-0064.
Form Number: N/A.
Expiration Date: 12/31/2010.
Type of Request: Revision of the currently approved burden hours
totaling 24,893,623 hours.
Abstract: This notice extends the applications, periodic reporting,
and notices burden calculations for the Supplemental Nutrition
Assistance Program (SNAP), which were recently revised and approved by
the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on March 26, 2010, and also
reflects corrections resulting from changes in the Farm Security and
Rural Investment Act of 2002 (FSRIA) final rule, published on January
29, 2010 (75 FR 4912). The SNAP regulations at 7 CFR Part 273 contain
the requirements for the application, certification and continued
eligibility of SNAP benefits.
The correction referenced in the above paragraph pertains to the
simplified reporting component under the previously approved
collection. The simplified reporting burden estimate approved under OMB
clearance number 0584-0064, Food Stamp Forms: Applications, Periodic
Reporting, Notices, expiring on December 31, 2010, was improperly
calculated. In analyzing the data used to determine the burden
estimate, we noted that the number of households under a simplified
reporting system was overestimated. As a result of this overestimation,
the burden for simplified reporting was miscalculated. Based on this,
we estimate that the total burden for this collection will decrease
from 24,893,623 hours to 23,609,236 hours.
Additionally, Section 4001(b) of Public Law 110-246, Food,
Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (FCEA), renamed the Food Stamp
Program to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP. The
new program name reflects the fact that participants no longer receive
stamps or coupons to make food purchases and emphasizes the nutritional
aspect of the program. To comply with current law, FNS is using the new
program name SNAP in this extension of information collection for OMB
No. 0584-0064. It should be noted, however, that the program
regulations at 7 CFR Parts 271-285 have not yet been revised to reflect
the new name.
Reporting Burden
Initial Application for SNAP. Section 273.2 of the SNAP regulations
requires that each applicant household complete and file an
application, either in paper or electronic form. The application
contains detailed information about each household member, income, and
resources that is necessary to determine if the applicant household is
entitled to assistance and, if so, the benefit amount. According to
information reported by SNAP State agencies to FNS and compiled in the
May 2009 National Data Bank Survey (NDB), there were 15,235,501
households certified with initial applications in SNAP. FNS estimates a
total household burden of 4,834,224 hours (15,235,501 initial
certifications x .3173 hours (19 minutes) to complete application =
4,834,224 burden hours). FNS estimates the State agency burden to be
4,834,224 hours (15,235,501 initial certification applications x .3173
hours to review applications = 4,834,224 burden hours).
Application for SNAP Recertification. Section 273.14 of the SNAP
regulations indicates that in order to continue participating in SNAP,
ongoing households must apply for recertification prior to the end of
their current certification periods. According to the May 2009 NDB
report, there were 12,252,802 recertification applications in SNAP. FNS
estimates a total household burden of 3,887,814 hours (12,252,802
recertification applications x .3173 hours (or 19 minutes) to complete
application = 3,887,814 burden hours). FNS estimates a burden of
3,887,814 hours (12,252,802 recertification applications x .3173 hours
(or 19 minutes) to review applications = 3,887,814 burden hours) for
the State agency review process.
Monthly Report. Under Sec. 273.21 of the SNAP regulations,
households subject to monthly reporting are required to submit reports
of their circumstances on a monthly basis. According to FNS 2008
Quality Control data, a total of 86,142 households in two States
(Minnesota and South Dakota) are subject to change reporting, resulting
in a household burden of 110,770 hours (86,142 households x 11 reports
per year x .1169 hours (or 7 minutes) to complete a
[[Page 40772]]
report = 110,770 burden hours). FNS estimates these State agencies will
incur a burden of 174,067 hours (86,142 households x 11 reports per
year x 0.1837 hours (or 11 minutes) to review each report = 174,067
burden hours).
Quarterly Report. Under Sec. 273.12(a)(4) of the SNAP regulations,
State agencies may require households to report changes on a quarterly
basis. Currently, California is the only state that requires households
to report changes in circumstances on a quarterly basis. The May 2009
NDB report indicates that 83 percent of California's caseload is under
quarterly reporting, which results in 1,101,891 households. FNS
estimates a household burden of 441,638 hours (1,101,891 household
under quarterly reporting x 3 reports per year x .1336 hours (or 8
minutes) to complete a report = 441,638 burden hours) for quarterly
reporting. The State agency burden is estimated at 662,457 hours
(1,101,891 household under quarterly reporting x 3 reports per year x
.2004 hours (or 12 minutes) to review each report = 662,457 burden
hours).
Simplified Report. Section 273.12(a)(5) of the SNAP regulations
allows State agencies to establish a simplified reporting system in
which households certified for longer than 6 months must submit a
periodic report that is due no later than the 6th month of their
certification period. According to the FNS Office of Research and
Analysis' 2008 data on SNAP reporting systems, a total of 6,238,761
households are currently subject to simplified reporting. FNS estimates
a household burden of 833,498 hours (6,238,761 reports x .1336 hours
(or 8 minutes) to complete each periodic report = 833,498 burden
hours). FNS estimates a burden of 1,146,060 hours (6,238,761 reports x
.1837 hours (or 11 minutes) to review each report = 1,146,060 burden
hours) for State agencies.
Change Report. Under Sec. 273.12(a)(1) of the SNAP regulations,
households not subject to monthly, quarterly reporting or simplified
reporting must report most changes in household circumstances within 10
days from the date that the change becomes known to the household.
Based on information provided by State agencies in 2008 and compiled by
FNS in the 2008 State Options Report, (dated June 2008) FNS estimates
that 844,245 households assigned to change reporting each submit 2.5
reports each year, resulting in a total of 176,236 burden hours per
year (844,245 households x 2.5 reports x .0835 hours (or 5 minutes) per
report = 176,236 burden hours) for households. FNS estimates a State
agency burden total of 387,720 hours (844,245 households x 2.5 reports
x .1837 hours (or 11 minutes) to review each report = 387,720 burden
hours).
Notice of Eligibility or Denial. According to Sec. 273.10(g)(1) of
the SNAP regulations, State agencies provide these notices to advise
households of the disposition of their application for initial
certification or recertification. Based on the May 2009 NDB data, an
estimated 32,600,716 eligibility and denial notices are issued annually
by all 53 State agencies. This leads to an estimated burden of
1,088,864 hours (32,600,716 notices x .0334 hours (or 2 minutes) per
notice = 1,088,864 burden hours), for all 53 State agencies to generate
and issue notices of approvals and denials of applications.
Other Notices
Notice of Missing or Incomplete Report. The SNAP regulations
require that State agencies advise ongoing households when they have
failed to submit complete or timely periodic reports under monthly,
quarterly or simplified reporting systems.
Request for Contact (RFC). The RFC notice, as indicated in Sec.
273.12(a)(3)(i) of the SNAP regulations, is used to contact the
household when the State agency receives information regarding a
potential change in a household's eligibility or benefits and such
information is not sufficient for the State agency to determine exactly
how the household's status would be affected.
Notice of Missed Interview (NOMI). Per Sec. 273.14(b)(3)(ii) of
the SNAP regulations, NOMIs are issued by State agencies to households
that fail to appear for their scheduled initial or recertification
interview, or in the case of households subject to telephone
interviews, fail to contact the State agency or receive telephone calls
initiated by the local office.
Notice of Expiration (NOE). As indicated in Sec. 273.14(b)(1)(i)
of the SNAP regulations, State agencies are required to mail an NOE to
currently participating households at least 30 days prior to the
expiration of their current certification period.
Notice of Adverse Action (NOAA). The NOAA, as indicated in Sec.
273.13(a) of the SNAP regulations, is issued by State agencies to
participating households whose benefits will be reduced or terminated
as the result of a change in household circumstances.
Adequate Notice. As indicated in Sec. 273.13(a) of the SNAP
regulations, an adequate notice is sent to households by the State
agency when the household's benefits are reduced or terminated based on
information reported by the household.
Transitional Benefits Notice (TN). According to Sec. 273.26 of the
SNAP regulations, States have the option to provide transitional
benefits to families leaving the Temporary Assistance for Needy
Families program (TANF).
FNS estimates that a total of 21,089,658 notices (described as
Other Notices) are issued annually by all 53 State agencies, with an
average burden of 3 minutes or .0501 hours per notice. Based on this
information, we estimate a total annual burden of 1,056,592 hours
(21,089,658 notices x .0501 hours = 1,056,592 burden hours) for State
agencies to generate and issue notices.
Recordkeeping Burden
State agencies are required to maintain client case records for 3
years and to perform duplicate participation checks on individual
household members to ensure the member is not participating in more
than one household.
(A) Case Files: The caseload to be maintained is equal to the
number of participating households and their subsequent files,
including documentation (i.e., electronic files, caseworker written
entries into the files, or hard copies of the documents) for notices
which were sent to the households. FNS estimates that 253,862 documents
will be sent to households in addition to the number of documents
estimated and approved under the previous collection. The increase in
recordkeeping burden associated with this revision is estimated to be
8,479 hours (253,862 documents x .0334 hours = 8,479 burden hours).
(B) Monitoring Duplicate Participation: The recordkeeping burden
for maintaining this automated system is determined by multiplying the
number of total applications expected to be received, the average
number of persons (2.3) in each household, and the processing time per
response (15 seconds or 0.0042 hours). Due to the rapid increase in
caseload, 8,155,221 more applications than in the previously approved
collection of 20,250,469 applications are expected to be received, thus
increasing the estimated burden hours to 78,779 hours over the
previously approved burden (8,155,221 applications x 2.3 average
of persons x .0042 hours = 78,779 burden hours).
(C) The total recordkeeping burden estimated under this revision is
87,258 hours.
The following tables illustrate all of the components of the
reporting and
[[Page 40773]]
recordkeeping burdens associated with this information collection.
Reporting
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Estimated
Form Estimated Total annual avg. Number Estimated
Section of regulation Title Number (if Number of Report filed responses/ of man- total man-
any) respondents annually records hours per hours
response
A B......................... C D E F G H (Col.
FxG)
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State Agency Level
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273.2(b)................................ Initial Application for ........... 53 287,462.30 15,235,501 .3173 4,834,224
SNAP.
273.10(g)(2) & 273.14(b)................ SNAP Recertification ........... 53 231,184.94 12,252,802 .3173 3,887,814
Applications.
273.21(a)............................... Monthly Reports........... ........... 2 .............. .............. ........... ...........
Households................ ........... 86,142 11.00 947,562 .1837 174,067
273.12(a)(4)............................ Quarterly Reports......... ........... 1 3,305,673.00 3,305,673 .2004 662,457
273.12(a)(5)............................ Simplified Reporting-- ........... 50 124,775.22 6,238,761 .1837 1,146,060
HH on SR.
273.12(a)(1)(i)(A)...................... Change Report-- ........... 32 65,956.65 2,110,612.80 .1837 387,720
HH on CR.
273.10(g)(1)(i) & (ii).................. Notice of Eligibility/ ........... 53 615,107.85 32,600,716 .0334 1,088,864
Denial.
Other Notices (not ........... 53 397,918.08 21,089,658 .0501 1,056,592
captured individually and
included below).
273.12(a)(4)(iii); 273.12(a)(5)(iii)(D); Notice of Missing/ ........... ........... .............. .............. ........... ...........
273.12(a)(6)(i); 273.21(j)(2)(i). Incomplete Report.
273.12(c)(3)(i)......................... Request for Contact....... ........... ........... .............. .............. ........... ...........
273.10(b)(3)(iii)....................... Notice of Missed Interview ........... ........... .............. .............. ........... ...........
273.2(i)(4)(iii)(A) & (B), Notice of Expiration...... ........... ........... .............. .............. ........... ...........
273.2(k)(1)(iii)(B)(2) & (E)(2).
273.13(a)............................... Notice of Adverse Action.. ........... ........... .............. .............. ........... ...........
273.13(b)(3) & 273.13(c)................ Adequate Notice........... ........... ........... .............. .............. ........... ...........
273.29.................................. Transitional Benefits ........... 53 0 0 0 0
Notice.
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State Agency Level Totals........... ........... 53 5,028,089 93,781,286 ........... 13,237,798
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Household Level
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273.2(b)................................ Initial Application for ........... 15,235,501 1.00 15,235,501 .3173 4,834,224
SNAP.
273.10(g)(2) & 273.14(b)................ SNAP Recertification ........... 12,252,802 1.00 12,252,802 .3173 3,887,814
Applications.
273.21(a)............................... Monthly Report............ ........... 86,142 11.00 947,562 .1169 110,770
273.12(a)(4)............................ Quarterly Report.......... ........... 1,101,891 3.00 3,305,673 .1336 441,638
273.12(a)(5)............................ Simplified Report......... ........... 6,238,761 1.00 6,238,761 .1336 833,498
273.12(a)(1)(i)(A)...................... Change Report............. ........... 844,245 2.50 2,110,613 .0835 176,236
273.10(g)(1)(i) & (ii).................. Notice of Eligibility/ ........... 0 0 0 0 0
Denial.
Other Notices (not ........... 0 0 0 0 0
captured individually and
included below).
273.12(a)(4)(iii); 273.12(a)(5)(iii)(D); Notice of Missing/ ........... ........... .............. .............. ........... ...........
273.12(a)(6)(i); 273.21(j)(2)(i). Incomplete Report.
273.12(c)(3)(i)......................... Request for Contact....... ........... ........... .............. .............. ........... ...........
273.10(b)(3)(iii)....................... Notice of Missed Interview ........... ........... .............. .............. ........... ...........
273.2(i)(4)(iii)(A) & (B), Notice of Expiration...... ........... ........... .............. .............. ........... ...........
273.2(k)(1)(iii)(B)(2) & (E)(2).
273.13(a)............................... Notice of Adverse Action.. ........... ........... .............. .............. ........... ...........
273.13(b)(3) & 273.13(c)................ Adequate Notice........... ........... ........... .............. .............. ........... ...........
273.29.................................. Transitional Benefits ........... 0 0 0 0 0
Notice.
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Household Level Totals.............. ........... 35,759,342 19.5 40,090,912 ........... 10,284,180
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Recordkeeping
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Estimated
Form Estimated Report Total avg. no. of Estimated
Section of regulation Title Number (if Number of filed annual man-hours total man-
any) respondents annually responses per hours
response
A B............................ C D E F (Col. G H (Col.
DxE) FxG)
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State Agency Level
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Part 273................................... Maintenance of Case Files.... ........... 53 4,789.85 253,862 0.0334 8,479
272.4...................................... Monitoring of Duplicate ........... 53 353,905.81 18,757,008 0.0042 78,779
Participation.
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State Agency Level Totals.............. ............................. ........... 53 358,695.66 19,010,870 ........... 87,258
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[[Page 40774]]
Summary of Reporting Burden Hours
Affected Public: State and local government agencies administering
SNAP and Individuals/Households.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 35,759,342: (State Agencies: 53
and Households: 35,759,342).
Estimated Number of Reports Filed Annually: State Agency: 5,028,089
Households: 19.50.
Estimated Number of Responses: 133,872,198: (State Agencies:
93,781,286 and Households: 40,090,912).
Estimated Total Annual Burden for Respondents: 23,521,978: (State
Agencies: 13,237,798 and Households: 10,284,180).
Estimated Total Reporting and Recordkeeping Burden Hours:
23,521,978 + 87,258 = 23,609,236.
Dated: July 7, 2010.
Audrey Rowe,
Acting Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-17183 Filed 7-13-10; 8:45 am]
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