[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 105 (Monday, June 2, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29704-29705]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-14290]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Consumer Service


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request--Reaching the Working Poor and Poor Elderly

AGENCY: Food and Consumer Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice announces the Food and Consumer Service's intention to request 
Office of Management and Budget approval of the Reaching the Working 
Poor and Poor Elderly Study data collection.

DATES: Written comments on this notice must be received by August 1, 
1997.

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 through the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology. Comments may be sent to: Michael 
E. Fishman, Acting Director, Office of Analysis and Evaluation, Food 
and Consumer Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 3101 Park Center 
Drive, Alexandria, VA 22302.
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval. All 
comments will also become a matter of public record.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the proposed information collection forms should be directed 
to Michael E. Fishman, (703) 305-2017.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Title: Reaching the Working Poor and Poor Elderly.
    OMB Number: Not yet assigned.
    Expiration Date: Not applicable.
    Type of Request: New collection of information.
    Abstract: The Food Stamp Program (FSP) is designed to provide 
assistance to all financially needy persons. However, a substantial 
number of those eligible for food stamps do not receive them. Most 
households that are eligible for food stamps but do not participate in 
the program fall into one of two groups: households with earnings, and 
households with elderly members. Only about one-half of eligible 
working households and one-third of eligible households with elderly 
participate in the FSP. The Food and Consumer Service is conducting a 
study of the reasons for nonparticipation by the working poor and poor 
elderly.
    The study involves the development and testing of questionnaires 
about FSP

[[Page 29705]]

nonparticipation to be administered to both FSP participants and FSP-
eligible nonparticipants who are working poor or poor elderly. Eight 
questionnaire versions and a screening interview will be pre-tested 
through this study; the refined instruments may be fielded under a 
separate, later effort.
    Affected Public: Working poor and elderly poor food stamp 
participants and nonparticipants.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: Two hundred sixty-eight (268) FSP-
eligible nonparticipants who are either working poor or elderly poor 
will be identified through telephone screening of a random-digit-
dialing sample of households with phones, and half will be administered 
a short version of the eligible nonparticipant questionnaire and half 
will be administered a long version. To identify these 268 eligible 
nonparticipants, a screening interview will be administered to an 
estimated 8,375 people. A sample of 132 current program participants 
who are either working poor or poor elderly will be identified from 
program administrative records or random-digit-dialing screening, and 
half will be administered a short version of the participant 
questionnaire and half will be administered a long version. Brief 
screening interviews will be administered to an estimated 155 people to 
identify the sample of 132 participants. The total number of 
respondents to screening interviews will be 8,530 and the total number 
of respondents to questionnaires will be 400.
    Estimated Time per Response: The screening interview for eligible 
nonparticipants averages 5 minutes each, and the screening interview 
for participants averages 1.5 minutes each. Long questionnaires average 
30 minutes each, and short questionnaires average 15 minutes each.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 853 hours.

    Dated: May 21, 1997.
William E. Ludwig,
Administrator, Food and Consumer Service.
[FR Doc. 97-14290 Filed 5-30-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-U