[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 179 (Tuesday, September 16, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55426-55427]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-21948]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food and Nutrition Service
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection;
Comment Request: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Pre-
Screening Tool
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 information collection. This is a revision of a
currently approved collection for a web-based pre-screening tool used
by the general public to determine potential eligibility for
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.
DATES: Written comments must be received on or before November 17,
2014.
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 will 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; and (d) ways
to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who
are to respond, including use of appropriate, automated, electronic,
mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms
of information technology.
Comments may be sent to Sasha Gersten-Paal, Branch 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 submitted
via fax to the attention of Sasha Gersten-Paal at 703-305-2507 or via
email to [email protected]. 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 responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the
request for Office of Management and Budget approval. All comments will
be a matter of public record.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or
copies of this information collection should be directed to Sasha
Gersten-Paal at (703) 305-2507.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
[[Page 55427]]
Title: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Pre-Screening
Tool.
OMB Number: 0584-0519.
Expiration Date: January 31, 2015.
Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection.
Abstract: In June 2003, the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS)
deployed an interactive web-based pre-screening tool that can be
utilized by the general public to determine potential eligibility for
benefits in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The
tool has been modified since the last revision of this collection to
maintain ease of use. Once the user enters household size, income,
expenses and resource information, the tool will calculate and provide
the user with an estimated range of benefits that the household may be
eligible to receive. Since SNAP eligibility and benefit amount may vary
by location, FNS makes it clear that the tool is only an estimator and
the household will need to contact the local agency to determine actual
eligibility and the appropriate benefit amount. Other data collected
are:
State: State or territory in which the user resides;
Number of People: Number of people living in the
household;
Migrant Workers: Is anyone in the household a seasonal or
migrant farm worker;
Homeless: Is the household homeless or living in a
shelter;
Citizenship: Whether each member is a U.S. citizen;
Utility expenses: Whether client is billed for utility
costs;
Although the tool also requests the name and age of the user, FNS does
not retain this information nor does it request other personally
identifiable information such as social security numbers, birthdays,
etc. of the household members. FNS estimates it will take approximately
402, 534 users about 10 minutes (0.167 hours) to provide the required
information to receive potential eligibility benefit information using
the pre-screening tool. Users are expected to access the system once
for a total annual response of 402,534. FNS estimates 67,223 burden
hours for this activity. Once the user logs out of the system, none of
the user-provided information is retained by FNS.
In reviewing National Databank program participation data for FY
2012 to FY 2014, it was noted that a peak in household participation
occurred in FY 2013. Although we estimated a 1.65 percent difference in
participation levels since the last extension of this collection, the
trajectory of current participation levels suggests that household
participation in SNAP may level off for FY 2014. Based on this
analysis, and the number of potential applicants estimated to use the
prescreening tool, the current burden inventory is 66,132; FNS projects
an annual burden of 67,223 hours, representing an increase of 1,091
hours.
Affected Public: Individuals and Households, potential SNAP
clients.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 402,534.
Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
Estimated Total Annual Responses: 402,534.
Estimate Time per Response: 0.167.
Estimated Total Annual Burden: 67,223.
Because none of the data entered by users is retained, there is no
recordkeeping requirement associated with this information collection.
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Estimated Responses
OMB # 0584-0519 Requirement number of annually per Total annual Hours per Annual burden
respondents respondent responses response hours
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Affected Public
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Potential SNAP Clients
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Reporting burden....................... Completion of SNAP Prescreening 402,534 1 402,534 0.167 67,223
Tool.
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Reporting totals................... ............................... 402,534 1 402,534 0.167 67,223
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Dated: September 5, 2014.
Audrey Rowe,
Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-21948 Filed 9-15-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P