[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 109 (Friday, June 5, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34592-34596]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-12237]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service


Agency Information Collection Activities: Supplemental Nutrition 
Assistance Program (SNAP) Forms: Applications, Periodic Reporting, and 
Notices

AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), 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 collection is a revision 
of the currently approved collection for the applications, periodic 
reporting, and notices burden calculations for the Supplemental 
Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before August 4, 2020.

ADDRESSES: The Food and Nutrition Service, USDA, invites interested 
persons to submit written comment.
     Preferred Method: Federal eRulemaking Portal. Go to http://www.regulations.gov, and follow the online instructions for submitting 
comments electronically.
     Mail: Send comments to Certification Policy Branch, 
Program Development Division, FNS, 1320 Braddock Place, Alexandria, VA 
22314.
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 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 the 
Certification Policy Branch, Program Development Division, FNS, 1320 
Braddock Place, Alexandria, VA 22314 or via email to 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the 
proposed

[[Page 34593]]

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 that were 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.
    Title: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Forms: 
Applications, Periodic Reporting, and Notices.
    Form Number: None.
    OMB Number: 0584-0064.
    Expiration Date: July 31, 2020.
    Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Abstract: The information collection addresses the burden estimates 
associated with applications, which are designed at the State level; 
periodic reporting; and notices sent to SNAP participants or applicants 
(Individuals/Households). Following Federal requirements, State 
agencies are responsible for determining the eligibility of SNAP 
applicant individuals or the entire household, and issuing benefits to 
those households entitled to benefits under the Food and Nutrition Act 
of 2008 (the Act), as amended. State agencies obtain demographics such 
as: Names, social security numbers, and date of births of all household 
members; addresses; and individual or household income information from 
households through the initial application and recertification 
processes as well as through various reports to determine program 
eligibility and benefit levels. SNAP notices sent to individual or 
household addresses are the primary method State agencies communicate 
with SNAP applicants and current participants. This information must be 
collected from households to ensure that they are eligible for the 
program and that they receive the correct amount of SNAP benefits. The 
Federal procedures for implementing the application and certification 
procedures in the Act are in Parts 271, 272, and 273 of the Title 7 of 
the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). Part 271 contains general 
information and definitions, Part 272 contains requirements for 
participating State agencies, and Part 273 contains procedures for the 
certification of eligible households.
    In the process of renewing this information collection with 
changes, FNS modified the burden of some of its reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements to reflect current SNAP caseload levels and 
to better account for the complexity of certain activities applicable 
to State agencies, Local agencies, and Individuals/Households. In 
addition, FNS included burden for a set of existing requirements 
applicable to State agencies and Individuals/Households that were not 
delineated in previous burden tables. The burden for this set of 
requirements, listed below, was combined with the burden of the 
requirements in the current approval and thus, represent an increase in 
total annual responses and total annual burden hours for 53 State 
agencies, 2,724 Local agencies and 19,699,000 Individuals/Households.
    1. Failure to Report Shelter Costs Change Due to Move Notice (7 CFR 
273.14(b)): Under this requirement, 53 State agencies will each send, 
on average, 9,678.98 notifications to households who have changed their 
address and have not provided updated information about their shelter 
costs that their allotment will be recalculated without any new 
deductions. Thus, the information collection activities associated with 
this requirement result in 512,986 responses for State agencies. FNS 
estimates that it takes States approximately 2 minutes (0.0334 hours) 
per response, resulting in 17,133.73 burden hours. This adjustment to 
the burden reflects an increase of 512,986 total annual responses and 
17,133.73 total annual burden hours for States agencies. FNS also 
estimates that 512,986 households will each read one notification. 
Thus, the information collection activities associated with this 
requirement result in 512,986 responses for households. FNS estimates 
that it takes households approximately 1 minute (0.0167 hours) per 
response, resulting in 8,566.87 burden hours. This adjustment to the 
burden reflects an increase of 512,986 total annual responses and 
8,566.87 total annual burden hours for households.
    2. Report of ABAWDs Change in Work Hours below 20 Hours per Week (7 
CFR 273.24(b)(7)): Under this requirement, 53 State agencies will each 
review, on average, 14,049.81 reports from SNAP participating 
households when any eligible member has had a reduction in work hours 
below an average of 20 hours per week, averaged monthly. Thus, the 
information collection activities associated with this requirement 
result in 744,640 responses for State agencies. FNS estimates that it 
takes States approximately 11 minutes (0.1837 hours) per response, 
resulting in 136,790.37 burden hours. This adjustment to the burden 
reflects an increase of 744,640 total annual responses and 136,790.37 
total annual burden hours for States agencies. FNS also estimates that 
744,640 households will each submit one report. Thus, the information 
collection activities associated with this requirement result in 
744,640 responses for households. FNS estimates that it takes 
households approximately 10 minutes (0.167 hours) per response, 
resulting in 124,354.88 burden hours. This adjustment to the burden 
reflects an increase of 744,640 total annual responses and 124,354.88 
total annual burden hours for households.
    3. Notice of Option to Disqualify Custodial Parent for Failure to 
Cooperate (7 CFR 273.11(o)(2)): Under this requirement, 53 State 
agencies will each send, on average, 6,173.40 notifications to inform 
custodial parents of a right to good cause for non-cooperation prior to 
a State agency requiring cooperation from a parent. Thus, the 
information collection activities associated with this requirement 
result in 327,190 responses for State agencies. FNS estimates that it 
takes States approximately 3 minutes (0.0501 hours) per response, 
resulting in 16,392.22 burden hours. This adjustment to the burden 
reflects an increase of 327,190 total annual responses and 16,392.22 
total annual burden hours for States agencies. FNS also estimates that 
327,190 custodial parents (individual or household) will each read one 
notification. Thus, the information collection activities associated 
with this requirement result in 327,190 responses for households. FNS 
estimates that it takes households approximately 5 minutes (0.0835 
hours) per response, resulting in 27,320.37 burden hours. This 
adjustment to the burden reflects an increase of 327,190 total annual 
responses and 27,320.37 total annual burden hours for households.
    4. Notice of Match Results (7 CFR 273.12(c)(3)(iii)): Under this 
requirement, 53 State agencies will each distribute, on average, 
9,044.23 notices of match results to households for which the State 
agency receives match information related to a Prison Verification 
System notification or a deceased individual. Thus, the information 
collection activities associated with this requirement result in 
479,344 responses for State agencies. FNS estimates that it takes 
States approximately 3 minutes (0.0501 hours)

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per response, resulting in 24,015.13 burden hours. This adjustment to 
the burden reflects an increase of 479,344 total annual responses and 
24,015.13 total annual burden hours for States agencies. FNS also 
estimates that 383,475 households will each read one notification. 
Thus, the information collection activities associated with this 
requirement result in 383,475 responses for households. FNS estimates 
that it takes households approximately 5 minutes (0.0835 hours) per 
response, resulting in 32,020.16 burden hours. This adjustment to the 
burden reflects an increase of 383,475 total annual responses and 
32,020.16 total annual burden hours for households.
    5. Notice of Subject to Work Requirements (7 CFR 273.7(c)(1)): 
Under this requirement, 53 State agencies will each provide, on 
average, 98,566.04 written statements to eligible household members 
under the work provision requirements of 7 CFR 273.7 explaining work 
requirements, the rights and responsibilities of eligible members, and 
the consequences for failing to comply. Thus, the information 
collection activities associated with this requirement result in 
5,224,000 responses for State agencies. FNS estimates that it takes 
States approximately 3 minutes (0.0501 hours) per response, resulting 
in 261,722.40 burden hours. This adjustment to the burden reflects an 
increase of 5,224,000 total annual responses and 261,722.40 total 
annual burden hours for States agencies. FNS also estimates that 
4,179,200 household members will each read one written statement. Thus, 
the information collection activities associated with this requirement 
result in 4,179,200 responses for households. FNS estimates that it 
takes households approximately 5 minutes (0.0835 hours) per response, 
resulting in 348,963.20 burden hours. This adjustment to the burden 
reflects an increase of 4,179,200 total annual responses and 348,963.20 
total annual burden hours for households.
    6. Referral to Employment & Training and Notice of Requirements (7 
CFR 273.7(c)(2)): Under this requirement, State agencies must screen 
each work registrant to determine whether it is appropriate to refer 
the individual to an E&T program. Fifty-three (53) State agencies will 
each issue, on average, 2,424.43 notices to participants of the 
requirements of the E&T program component, what will constitute non-
compliance, and the sanctions for non-compliance. Thus, the information 
collection activities associated with this requirement result in 
128,495 responses for State agencies. FNS estimates that it takes 
States approximately 3 minutes (0.0501 hours) per response, resulting 
in 6,437.60 burden hours. This adjustment to the burden reflects an 
increase of 128,495 total annual responses and 6,437.60 total annual 
burden hours for States agencies. FNS also estimates that 102,796 
households will each read one notice. Thus, the information collection 
activities associated with this requirement result in 102,796 responses 
for households. FNS estimates that it takes households approximately 5 
minutes (0.0835 hours) per response, resulting in 8,583.47 burden 
hours. This adjustment to the burden reflects an increase of 102,796 
total annual responses and 8,583.47 total annual burden hours for 
households.
    7. Notice of Required Verification (7 CFR 273.2(c)(5)): Under this 
requirement, 53 State agencies will each provide, on average, 
617,338.72 notices to households with all verification requirements the 
household must meet at the time of application for certification and 
recertification. Thus, the information collection activities associated 
with this requirement result in 32,718,952 responses for State 
agencies. FNS estimates that it takes States approximately 3 minutes 
(0.0501 hours) per response, resulting in 1,639,219.50 burden hours. 
This adjustment to the burden reflects an increase of 32,718,952 total 
annual responses and 1,639,219.50 total annual burden hours for States 
agencies. FNS also estimates that 26,175,162 households will each read 
one notice. Thus, the information collection activities associated with 
this requirement result in 26,175,162 responses for households. FNS 
estimates that it takes households approximately 5 minutes (0.0835 
hours) per response, resulting in 2,185,626.03 burden hours. This 
adjustment to the burden reflects an increase of 26,175,162 total 
annual responses and 2,185,626.03 total annual burden hours for 
households.
    8. Fleeing Felon and Probation or Parole Violators Determination (7 
CFR 273.11(n)(3)-(4)): Under this requirement, 53 State agencies will 
each send, on average, 12,346.77 requests for information to a law 
enforcement agency about the conditions of a felony warrant or a 
probation or parole violation for a SNAP participant, and verify if a 
law enforcement agency has taken any action following the initial 
request for information. Thus, the information collection activities 
associated with this requirement result in 654,379 responses for State 
agencies. FNS estimates that it takes States approximately 3 minutes 
(0.0501 hours) per response, resulting in 32,784.39 burden hours. This 
adjustment to the burden reflects an increase of 654,379 total annual 
responses and 32,784.39 total annual burden hours for States agencies. 
FNS also estimates that 654,379 households will each read one notice. 
Thus, the information collection activities associated with this 
requirement result in 654,379 responses for households. FNS estimates 
that it takes households approximately 3 minutes (0.0501 hours) per 
response, resulting in 32,784.39 burden hours. This adjustment to the 
burden reflects an increase of 654,379 total annual responses and 
32,784.39 total annual burden hours for households.
    9. Mass Change in Federal Benefits (7 CFR 273.12(e)(3)): Under this 
requirement, 53 State agencies will each establish procedures for 
making mass changes to reflect cost of living adjustments in benefits 
and any other mass changes under Retirement, Survivors, and Disability 
Insurance (RSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) once annually. 
Thus, the information collection activities associated with this 
requirement result in 53 responses for State agencies. FNS estimates 
that it takes States 10 hours per response, resulting in 530.00 burden 
hours. This adjustment to the burden reflects an increase of 53 total 
annual responses and 530.00 total annual burden hours for States 
agencies. There are no burden activities required for households.
    10. Change Report Form (7 CFR 273.12(b)(4)): Under this 
requirement, 53 State agencies will each provide, on average, 
794,055.70 change report forms to households upon initial application, 
recertification, and when any household submits a change report. Thus, 
the information collection activities associated with this requirement 
result in 42,084,952 responses for State agencies. FNS estimates that 
it takes States approximately 1 minute (0.0167 hours) per response, 
resulting in 702,818.70 burden hours. This adjustment to the burden 
reflects an increase of 42,084,952 total annual responses and 
702,818.70 total annual burden hours for States agencies. FNS also 
estimates that 42,084,952 households will each complete one change 
report form. Thus, the information collection activities associated 
with this requirement result in 42,084,952 responses for households. 
FNS estimates that it takes households approximately 1 minute (0.0167 
hours) per response, resulting in 702,818.70 burden hours. This 
adjustment to the burden reflects an increase of 42,084,952 total 
annual responses and

[[Page 34595]]

702,818.70 total annual burden hours for households.
    11. Notice of Eligibility, Denial, or Pending Status (7 CFR 
273.10(g)(1)(i) & (ii) & (iii)): For State agencies, the burden 
associated with this requirement is included in the burden table of the 
currently approved collection. However, for households, this 
requirement is not included as a separate entry in the burden table.
    Under this requirement 53 State agencies will each send, on 
average, 687,625.36 notices to households to advise them of the 
disposition of their application for initial certification or 
recertification. Thus, the information collection activities associated 
with this requirement result in 36,444,144 responses for State 
agencies. FNS estimates that it takes States approximately 3 minutes 
(0.0501 hours) per response, resulting in 1,825,851.61 burden hours. 
The currently approved number of responses and burden hours for this 
requirement are 37,749,439.21 and 1,260,831.27, respectively. This 
adjustment to the burden reflects a decrease of 1,305,295.21 total 
annual responses and an increase of 565,020.34 total annual burden 
hours for States agencies. FNS also estimates that 29,155,315 
households will each read one notice. Thus, the information collection 
activities associated with this requirement result in 29,155,315 
responses for households. FNS estimates that it takes households 
approximately 5 minutes (0.0835 hours) per response, resulting in 
2,434,468.80 burden hours. This adjustment to the burden reflects an 
increase of 29,155,315 total annual responses and 2,434,468.80 total 
annual burden hours for households.
    12. Notice of Missing or Incomplete Report (7 CFR 273.12(a)(4)(iii) 
& 273.12(a)(5)(iii)(D)): For State agencies, the burden associated with 
this requirement is included in the burden table of the currently 
approved collection. However, for households, this requirement is not 
included as a separate entry in the burden table.
    Under this requirement, 53 State agencies will each send, on 
average, 1,009.17 notices to ongoing households to advise them when 
they have failed to submit the required monthly, quarterly or 
semiannual report altogether or, if the household submitted the report, 
that some of the information required to be included in such reports 
was not provided. Thus, the information collection activities 
associated with this requirement result in 53,486 responses for State 
agencies. FNS estimates that it takes States approximately 3 minutes 
(0.0501 hours) per response, resulting in 2,679.65 burden hours. The 
currently approved number of responses and burden hours for this 
requirement are 60,942.05 and 2,035.46, respectively. This adjustment 
to the burden reflects a decrease of 7,456.05 total annual responses 
and an increase of 644.18 total annual burden hours for States 
agencies. FNS also estimates that 42,789 households will each read one 
notice. Thus, the information collection activities associated with 
this requirement result in 42,789 responses for households. FNS 
estimates that it takes households approximately 5 minutes (0.0835 
hours) per response, resulting in 3,572.88 burden hours. This 
adjustment to the burden reflects an increase of 42,789 total annual 
responses and 3,572.88 total annual burden hours for households.
    13. Notice of Expiration (7 CFR 273.14(b)(1)): For State agencies, 
the burden associated with this requirement is included in the burden 
table of the currently approved collection. However, for households, 
this requirement is not included as a separate entry in the burden 
table.
    Under this requirement, 53 State agencies will each send, on 
average, 365,751.11 notices to currently participating households at 
least 30 days prior to the expiration of their current certification 
period. Thus, the information collection activities associated with 
this requirement result in 19,384,809 responses for State agencies. FNS 
estimates that it takes States approximately 3 minutes (0.0501 hours) 
per response, resulting in 971,178.93 burden hours. The currently 
approved number of responses and burden hours for this requirement are 
22,087,011.18 and 737,706.17, respectively. This adjustment to the 
burden reflects a decrease of 2,702,202.18 total annual responses and 
an increase of 233,472.76 total annual burden hours for States 
agencies. FNS also estimates that 15,507,847 households will each read 
one notice. Thus, the information collection activities associated with 
this requirement result in 15,507,847 responses for households. FNS 
estimates that it takes households approximately 5 minutes (0.0835 
hours) per response, resulting in 1,294,905.22 burden hours. This 
adjustment to the burden reflects an increase of 15,507,847 total 
annual responses and 1,294,905.22 total annual burden hours for 
households.
    FNS made the above adjustments to more accurately reflect the 
burden associated with the information collection requirements at 7 CFR 
parts 271, 272, and 273.
    Considering all burden adjustments made as part of this renewal 
(e.g., modification of hourly burden estimates, inclusion of burden for 
existing requirements not delineated in previous burden tables), FNS is 
requesting an overall burden of 937,793,284.93, rounded to 937,793,285, 
total annual responses and 112,543,753.58, rounded to 112,543,754, 
total annual burden hours. These burden estimates include 
772,614,488.93 total annual responses and 108,220,423.43 total annual 
burden hours for reporting by State agencies and Individuals/
Households. The estimates also include 165,178,796.00 total annual 
responses and 4,323,340.14 total annual burden hours for recordkeeping 
by Local agencies. A breakdown of the burden estimates per type of 
affected public is provided below.

Reporting Burden for State Agencies

    Estimated Total Number of Respondents: 53.
    Estimated Frequency of Responses per Respondents: 7,389,511.23.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 391,644,095.
    Estimated Time per Response: 0.1202.
    Estimated Total Annual Reporting Burden: 47,062,598.20.

Reporting Burden for Individuals/Households

    Estimated Total Number of Respondents: 19,699,000.
    Estimated Frequency of Responses per Respondents: 19.34.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 380,970,394.
    Estimated Time per Response: 0.1605.
    Estimated Total Annual Reporting Burden: 61,157,815.23.

Recordkeeping Burden for Local Agencies

    Estimated Total Number of Recordkeepers: 2,724.
    Estimated Frequency of Responses per Recordkeeper: 60,638.32.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 165,178,796.00.
    Estimated Time per Record: 0.0262.
    Estimated Total Annual Recordkeeping Burden: 4,323,340.14.

Overall Grand Total Reporting and Recordkeeping Burden for All Affected 
Public

    Estimated Overall Total Number of Respondents: 19,701,777.
    Estimated Overall Frequency of Responses per Respondents: 47.60.
    Estimated Overall Total Annual Responses: 937,793,284.93.
    Estimated Overall Time per Response: 0.12.

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    Estimated Overall Grand Total Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping 
Burden: 112,543,753.58.
    The currently approved burden for this information collection is 
643,938,886 total annual responses and 77,690,005 total annual burden 
hours. Thus, when compared to the burden in the currently approved 
information collection, the adjustments in this renewal represent an 
increase of 293,854,398.93, rounded to 293,854,399, total annual 
responses and 34,853,748.58, rounded to 34,853,749, total annual burden 
hours. All burden changes associated with the renewal of this 
information collection are due to adjustments.
    FNS is currently in the process of conducting less than ten 
consultations with State agencies and FNS staff regarding the accuracy 
of the burden estimates in this information collection, including the 
validity of the methodology and assumptions that were used to estimate 
the burden. The inputs from those consultations will be considered, 
along with the public comments received in response to this notice, as 
FNS finalizes the burden estimate to be included in the request for OMB 
for approval.

                                                        FNS SNAP Forms ICR Total Burden Estimate
                                                               [OMB Control No. 0584-0064]
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                                                                                        Estimated
                                                                                        number of                          Estimated
                         Affected public                           Estimated number     responses      Estimated total  average number   Estimated total
                                                                     of respondent     annually per   annual responses   of hours per         hours
                                                                                        respondent                         response
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Reporting Burden:
    State Agencies...............................................                53     7,389,511.23    391,644,095.00          0.1202     47,062,598.20
    Local Agencies...............................................                 0                0                 0               0                 0
    Individuals/Households.......................................        19,699,000            19.34    380,970,393.93          0.1605     61,157,815.23
                                                                  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Total Estimated Reporting Burden.........................        19,699,053            39.22    772,614,488.93          0.1400    108,220,413.43
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Recordkeeping Burden:
    State Agencies...............................................                 0                0                 0               0                 0
    Local Agencies...............................................             2,724        60,638.32    165,178,796.00          0.0262      4,323,340.14
    Individuals/Households.......................................                 0                0                 0               0                 0
                                                                  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Total Estimated Recordkeeping Burden.....................             2,724        60,638.32    165,178,796.00          0.0262      4,323,340.14
                                                                  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Total of Reporting and Recordkeeping for #0584-0064..        19,701,777            47.60    937,793,284.93          0.1200    112,543,753.58
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Pamilyn Miller,
Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-12237 Filed 6-4-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-30-P