[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