Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request-Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Repayment Demand and Program Disqualification, 16598-16599 [2011-6950]
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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 57 / Thursday, March 24, 2011 / Notices
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Dated: March 15, 2011.
Pearlie S. Reed,
Assistant Secretary for Administration.
[FR Doc. 2011–6913 Filed 3–23–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–11–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food and Nutrition Service
Agency Information Collection
Activities: Proposed Collection;
Comment Request—Supplemental
Nutrition Assistance Program
Repayment Demand and Program
Disqualification
Food and Nutrition Service,
USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with NOTICES
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this
notice invites the general public and
other public agencies to comment on
proposed information collections. This
collection is a revision of currently
SUMMARY:
VerDate Mar<15>2010
16:17 Mar 23, 2011
Jkt 223001
approved information collection
requirements associated with initiating
collection actions against households
who have received an overissuance in
the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance
Program (SNAP).
DATES: Written comments must be
submitted on or before May 23, 2011 to
be assured consideration.
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 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. Comments may
be sent to: Jane Duffield, Chief, State
Administration Branch, Food and
Nutrition Service, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, 3101 Park Center Drive,
Room 822, Alexandria, VA 22302.
Comments may also be submitted via
fax to the attention of Jane Duffield at
703–305–0928 or via e-mail to
Jane.Duffield@fns.usda.gov. Comments
will also be accepted through the
Federal eRulemaking Portal. Go to
https://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 a.m. to 5
p.m. Monday through Friday) at 3101
Park Center Drive, Room 822,
Alexandria, Virginia 22302. 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 Christine Daffan at
703–305–2473.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Supplemental Nutrition
Assistance Program Repayment Demand
and Program Disqualification.
OMB Number: 0584–0492.
Form Number: None.
Expiration Date: July 31, 2011.
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Type of Request: Revision of a
currently approved collection.
Abstract: Section 13(b) of the Food
and Nutrition Act of 2008, as amended
(7 U.S.C. 2022(b)), and Supplemental
Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
regulations at 7 CFR 273.18 require
State agencies to initiate collection
action against households that have
been overissued benefits. To initiate
collection action, State agencies must
provide an affected household with
written notification informing the
household of the claim and demanding
repayment. This process is automated in
most State agencies. For initiating
collection action on an overissuance, we
are increasing the estimated annual
reporting and recordkeeping burden for
State agencies and households from
111,200 hours to 137,584 hours. The
reason for the increase is to reflect the
higher number of claims that were
established in fiscal year (FY) 2009.
Note that for recipient claims, this
Federal Register notice only covers the
reporting and recordkeeping burden for
initiating collection action. The burden
associated with reporting collections
and other claims management
information on the FNS–209 report is
covered under currently approved OMB
number 0584–0069 expiration date
8/31/2012. The burden associated with
referring delinquent claims and
receiving collections through the
Treasury Offset Program is covered
under currently approved OMB number
0584–0446 expiration date 2/28/2013.
SNAP regulations at 7 CFR 273.16
require State agencies to investigate any
case of suspected fraud and, where
applicable, make an intentional Program
violation (IPV) determination either
administratively or judicially. Examples
of notifications and activity involved in
the IPV process include:
• The State agency providing written
notification informing an individual
suspected of committing an IPV of an
impending administrative
disqualification hearing or court action;
• An individual opting to accept the
disqualification and waiving the right to
an administrative disqualification
hearing or court action by signing either
a waiver to an administrative
disqualification hearing or a
disqualification consent agreement in
cases of deferred adjudication; and
• Once a determination is made
regarding an IPV, the State agency sends
notification to the affected individual of
the action taken on the administrative
disqualification hearing or court
decision.
Despite an increase in SNAP
participation, IPV activity has only
increased slightly. We are increasing the
E:\FR\FM\24MRN1.SGM
24MRN1
Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 57 / Thursday, March 24, 2011 / Notices
SA Reporting Burden
Estimated Number of Respondents:
53.
Estimate Total Number of Responses
per Respondent: 17,015.77.
Estimated Total Annual Responses:
901,836.
Estimated Time per Response:
0.12760.
Estimated Total Annual Reporting
Burden: 115,071.418.
Summary of Estimated Burden
emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with NOTICES
household annual reporting burden for
the activities related to IPV
disqualifications from 2,348 hours to
2,710 hours.
The States’ annual reporting burden
for the activities related to IPV
disqualifications and hearing notices
has increased from 13,340 hours to
15,381 hours. The States’ annual
recordkeeping burden for the IPV
related activities increased from 2,942
hours to 3,396 hours. These increases
are due to Program changes as a result
of an increased number of SNAP
households that States have reported as
disqualified.
One of the factors used by a State
agency to determine the appropriate
disqualification penalty to assign to an
individual is whether or not the
individual was found to have
committed any prior IPVs. The way that
State agencies determine this is by
accessing and checking the Electronic
Disqualified Recipient System (eDRS),
which is an automated system
developed by FNS that contains records
of disqualifications in every State. State
agencies are responsible for updating
the system and checking it to determine
the appropriate length of each
disqualification. An estimate of the
annual burden associated with the eDRS
process reflects an increase from 5,563
hours to 7,967 hours per year.
Dated: March 18, 2011.
Julia Paradis,
Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
The net aggregate change from the
currently approved burden of 135,393
hours to the proposed annual burden for
this collection of 167,038 hours is an
increase of 31,645 hours. For initiating
collection action on an overissuance, we
are increasing the estimated annual
burden for State agencies and
households from 111,200 hours to
137,584 hours to reflect the higher
number of claims established in FY
2009. The IPV-related State agency and
household annual reporting and
recordkeeping burden has increased
from 18,630 hours to 21,487 hours to
reflect the higher number of
disqualifications. An estimate of the
annual burden associated with the eDRS
process reflects a total increase from
5,563 hours to 7,967 hours per year.
Adjustments have been made to the
burden to include requirements not
previously identified, burden identified
incorrectly, and corrections made in the
calculations of the number of responses
and hours per response.
Affected Public: State, Local and
Tribal government (SA); Individual/
Households (I/H).
Respondent Type: SNAP participants.
VerDate Mar<15>2010
16:17 Mar 23, 2011
Jkt 223001
SA Recordkeeping Burden
Estimated Number of Recordkeepers:
53.
Estimated Total Records per
Recordkeeper: 14,902.77.
Annual Records: 789,794 + 53
Recordkeepers = 789,847.
Estimated Average # of Hours per
Response: 0.03333.
Estimated Total Recordkeeping
Hours: 26,326.20.
I/H Reporting Burden
Estimated Number of Respondents:
687,922.
Estimated Number of Responses per
Respondent: 1.19333.
Total Number of Annual Responses:
820,917.96.
Estimated Time per Response:
0.03123.
Estimated Total Annual Reporting
Burden: 25,640.36.
Grand Total Burden Reporting and
Recordkeeping Burden: 167,037.
[FR Doc. 2011–6950 Filed 3–23–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–30–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food and Nutrition Service
Special Supplemental Nutrition
Program for Women, Infants and
Children (WIC): Income Eligibility
Guidelines
Food and Nutrition Service,
USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
The Department announces
adjusted income eligibility guidelines to
be used by State agencies in
determining the income eligibility of
persons applying to participate in the
Special Supplemental Nutrition
Program for Women, Infants and
Children Program (WIC). These income
eligibility guidelines are to be used in
conjunction with the WIC Regulations.
DATES: Effective Date: July 1, 2011.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Anne Bartholomew, Branch Chief,
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
16599
Policy Branch, Supplemental Food
Programs Division, FNS, USDA, 3101
Park Center Drive, Alexandria, Virginia
22302, (703) 305–2746.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Executive Order 12866
This notice is exempt from review by
the Office of Management and Budget
under Executive Order 12866.
Regulatory Flexibility Act
This action is not a rule as defined by
the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C.
601–612) and thus is exempt from the
provisions of this Act.
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
This notice does not contain reporting
or recordkeeping requirements subject
to approval by the Office of
Management and Budget in accordance
with the Paperwork Reduction Act of
1995 (44 U.S.C. 3507).
Executive Order 12372
This program is listed in the Catalog
of Federal Domestic Assistance
Programs under No. 10.557, and is
subject to the provisions of Executive
Order 12372, which requires
intergovernmental consultation with
State and local officials (7 CFR part
3015, Subpart V, 48 FR 29114, June 24,
1983, and 49 FR 22676, May 31, 1984).
Description
Section 17(d)(2)(A) of the Child
Nutrition Act of 1966, as amended (42
U.S.C. 1786(d)(2)(A)) requires the
Secretary of Agriculture to establish
income criteria to be used with
nutritional risk criteria in determining a
person’s eligibility for participation in
the WIC Program. The law provides that
persons will be income eligible for the
WIC Program only if they are members
of families that satisfy the income
standard prescribed for reduced-price
school meals under section 9(b) of the
Richard B. Russell National School
Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1758(b)). Under
section 9(b), the income limit for
reduced-price school meals is 185
percent of the Federal poverty
guidelines, as adjusted.
Section 9(b) also requires that these
guidelines be revised annually to reflect
changes in the Consumer Price Index.
The annual revision for 2011/2012 was
published by the Department of Health
and Human Services (HHS) at 76 FR
3637, January 20, 2011. The guidelines
published by HHS are referred to as the
poverty guidelines. Section 246.7(d)(1)
of the WIC regulations (Title 7, Code of
Federal Regulations) specifies that State
agencies may prescribe income
guidelines either equaling the income
E:\FR\FM\24MRN1.SGM
24MRN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 57 (Thursday, March 24, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16598-16599]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-6950]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food and Nutrition Service
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection;
Comment Request--Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Repayment
Demand and Program Disqualification
AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this
notice invites the general public and other public agencies to comment
on proposed information collections. This collection is a revision of
currently approved information collection requirements associated with
initiating collection actions against households who have received an
overissuance in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before May 23, 2011 to
be assured consideration.
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 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. Comments may be sent to: Jane
Duffield, Chief, State Administration Branch, Food and Nutrition
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 3101 Park Center Drive, Room
822, Alexandria, VA 22302. Comments may also be submitted via fax to
the attention of Jane Duffield at 703-305-0928 or via e-mail to
Jane.Duffield@fns.usda.gov. Comments will also be accepted through the
Federal eRulemaking Portal. Go to https://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 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday) at 3101 Park Center Drive,
Room 822, Alexandria, Virginia 22302. 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 Christine
Daffan at 703-305-2473.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Repayment Demand
and Program Disqualification.
OMB Number: 0584-0492.
Form Number: None.
Expiration Date: July 31, 2011.
Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection.
Abstract: Section 13(b) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, as
amended (7 U.S.C. 2022(b)), and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance
Program (SNAP) regulations at 7 CFR 273.18 require State agencies to
initiate collection action against households that have been overissued
benefits. To initiate collection action, State agencies must provide an
affected household with written notification informing the household of
the claim and demanding repayment. This process is automated in most
State agencies. For initiating collection action on an overissuance, we
are increasing the estimated annual reporting and recordkeeping burden
for State agencies and households from 111,200 hours to 137,584 hours.
The reason for the increase is to reflect the higher number of claims
that were established in fiscal year (FY) 2009.
Note that for recipient claims, this Federal Register notice only
covers the reporting and recordkeeping burden for initiating collection
action. The burden associated with reporting collections and other
claims management information on the FNS-209 report is covered under
currently approved OMB number 0584-0069 expiration date 8/31/2012. The
burden associated with referring delinquent claims and receiving
collections through the Treasury Offset Program is covered under
currently approved OMB number 0584-0446 expiration date 2/28/2013. SNAP
regulations at 7 CFR 273.16 require State agencies to investigate any
case of suspected fraud and, where applicable, make an intentional
Program violation (IPV) determination either administratively or
judicially. Examples of notifications and activity involved in the IPV
process include:
The State agency providing written notification informing
an individual suspected of committing an IPV of an impending
administrative disqualification hearing or court action;
An individual opting to accept the disqualification and
waiving the right to an administrative disqualification hearing or
court action by signing either a waiver to an administrative
disqualification hearing or a disqualification consent agreement in
cases of deferred adjudication; and
Once a determination is made regarding an IPV, the State
agency sends notification to the affected individual of the action
taken on the administrative disqualification hearing or court decision.
Despite an increase in SNAP participation, IPV activity has only
increased slightly. We are increasing the
[[Page 16599]]
household annual reporting burden for the activities related to IPV
disqualifications from 2,348 hours to 2,710 hours.
The States' annual reporting burden for the activities related to
IPV disqualifications and hearing notices has increased from 13,340
hours to 15,381 hours. The States' annual recordkeeping burden for the
IPV related activities increased from 2,942 hours to 3,396 hours. These
increases are due to Program changes as a result of an increased number
of SNAP households that States have reported as disqualified.
One of the factors used by a State agency to determine the
appropriate disqualification penalty to assign to an individual is
whether or not the individual was found to have committed any prior
IPVs. The way that State agencies determine this is by accessing and
checking the Electronic Disqualified Recipient System (eDRS), which is
an automated system developed by FNS that contains records of
disqualifications in every State. State agencies are responsible for
updating the system and checking it to determine the appropriate length
of each disqualification. An estimate of the annual burden associated
with the eDRS process reflects an increase from 5,563 hours to 7,967
hours per year.
Summary of Estimated Burden
The net aggregate change from the currently approved burden of
135,393 hours to the proposed annual burden for this collection of
167,038 hours is an increase of 31,645 hours. For initiating collection
action on an overissuance, we are increasing the estimated annual
burden for State agencies and households from 111,200 hours to 137,584
hours to reflect the higher number of claims established in FY 2009.
The IPV-related State agency and household annual reporting and
recordkeeping burden has increased from 18,630 hours to 21,487 hours to
reflect the higher number of disqualifications. An estimate of the
annual burden associated with the eDRS process reflects a total
increase from 5,563 hours to 7,967 hours per year. Adjustments have
been made to the burden to include requirements not previously
identified, burden identified incorrectly, and corrections made in the
calculations of the number of responses and hours per response.
Affected Public: State, Local and Tribal government (SA);
Individual/Households (I/H).
Respondent Type: SNAP participants.
SA Reporting Burden
Estimated Number of Respondents: 53.
Estimate Total Number of Responses per Respondent: 17,015.77.
Estimated Total Annual Responses: 901,836.
Estimated Time per Response: 0.12760.
Estimated Total Annual Reporting Burden: 115,071.418.
SA Recordkeeping Burden
Estimated Number of Recordkeepers: 53.
Estimated Total Records per Recordkeeper: 14,902.77.
Annual Records: 789,794 + 53 Recordkeepers = 789,847.
Estimated Average # of Hours per Response: 0.03333.
Estimated Total Recordkeeping Hours: 26,326.20.
I/H Reporting Burden
Estimated Number of Respondents: 687,922.
Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.19333.
Total Number of Annual Responses: 820,917.96.
Estimated Time per Response: 0.03123.
Estimated Total Annual Reporting Burden: 25,640.36.
Grand Total Burden Reporting and Recordkeeping Burden: 167,037.
Dated: March 18, 2011.
Julia Paradis,
Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-6950 Filed 3-23-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P
