Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request, 13679-13680 [2024-03749]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 37 (Friday, February 23, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13679-13680]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-03749]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

    The Department of Agriculture has submitted the following 
information collection requirement(s) to OMB for review and clearance 
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. Comments 
are requested regarding; whether the collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility; the 
accuracy of the agency's estimate of burden including the validity of 
the methodology and assumptions used; ways to enhance the quality, 
utility and clarity of the information to be collected; and 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

[[Page 13680]]

collection techniques or other forms of information technology.
    Comments regarding this information collection received by March 
25, 2024 will be considered. Written comments and recommendations for 
the proposed information collection should be submitted within 30 days 
of the publication of this notice on the following website 
www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular information 
collection by selecting ``Currently under 30-day Review--Open for 
Public Comments'' or by using the search function. An agency may not 
conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless the collection of 
information displays a currently valid OMB control number and the 
agency informs potential persons who are to respond to the collection 
of information that such persons are not required to respond to the 
collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB 
control number.

Food and Nutrition Service

    Title: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Forms: 
Applications, Periodic Reporting and Notices.
    OMB Control Number: 0584-0064.
    Summary of Collection: The Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (the 
Act), requires verification of household eligibility for SNAP benefits, 
confirm household eligibility throughout participation in the program, 
and ensure that households receive the correct benefit amount. State 
agencies are responsible for determining the eligibility of applicant 
households and issuing benefits to those households entitled to 
benefits under the Act.
    The Federal regulations for implementing these procedures are 
contained in Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) in 7 CFR 
part 271, 7 CFR part 272, and 7 CFR part 273. 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.
    SNAP Applications, Periodic Reporting and Notices: The information 
collected by State agencies and electively provided by households upon 
initial application and then recertification (an application to 
continue participation in the program after an initial period of 
eligibility) includes (PII), as well as information about various 
household circumstances, such as household size and income. 
Applications are available in electronic and paper format. Once 
electively provided by households, State agencies must verify 
application information provided to determine their SNAP eligibility 
and benefit amounts, and then conduct an interview with the applicant 
household. Interviews are conducted in person or over the telephone. 
The information requirements for recertification are similar. 
Households with regular earned income are generally required to 
recertify every 12 months, although the recertification period can be 
as little as one month, or as long as two years, based on their 
circumstances.
    As part of the initial application and recertification process, 
State agencies are required to issue certain notices to households. 
This include notices when an application is denied, if an application 
is missing information, if a household misses their interview, if 
household benefits will soon expire, if household benefits will change, 
and when household benefits officially change. Notices provided by 
State agencies can be issued electronically or by paper.
    Following initial certification or recertification, households are 
required to notify (FNS) of any changes to their household status on a 
quarterly basis, monthly basis, or whenever a change occurs based on 
the reporting options chosen by their State agency, in order to 
maintain SNAP benefits and eligibility. Most State agencies also use 
simplified or periodic reporting, which requires households to report 
only certain changes to their status during the certification period. 
All reporting requirements can be completed electronically or by paper.
    Retention and Custody of Records. Under recordkeeping requirements, 
State agencies must maintain records to ascertain whether the program 
is administered in compliance with Federal statutes and regulations. 
State agencies must maintain case records of households participating 
in SNAP for a period of three years from the date of origin. In 
addition, State agencies must also maintain the ability to search 
household case records in order to prevent individuals from receiving 
benefits in more than one household, and to prevent households from 
receiving benefits in more than one jurisdiction (commonly referred to 
as ``duplicate participation''). Records can be maintained using 
automated retrieval systems rather than paper records.
    SNAP regulations (7 CFR 273.21) provide for a one month or two-
month reporting option to determine SNAP eligibility and benefits of 
the affected households. This requires households and State agencies to 
conduct reporting more frequently than a quarterly basis. This monthly 
collection is necessary to ensure the integrity of the program and to 
meet regulatory requirements. FNS notes that while all State agencies 
have the option to use monthly reporting, only one State uses this 
reporting system, and the number of households subject to this 
reporting system within the State is small.
    Need and Use of the Information: To determine initial and continued 
eligibility for SNAP, applicants must provide, and State agencies must 
verify, various information on household members, such as age, income, 
resources, allowable deductions, and Social Security Numbers (SSNs). 
This information must be collected to ensure households are eligible 
for SNAP, receive the correct benefit, and maintain eligibility for the 
program. This information collection is mandatory for State agencies 
that administer SNAP, as they are responsible for accepting 
applications from, and determining eligibility for, individuals and 
households that apply for SNAP. While a response is voluntary for 
households that apply for SNAP, it is required in order for them to 
obtain or maintain SNAP benefits from their State agency.
    Description of Respondents: State, Local, Tribal Government, 
Individuals, Households.
    Number of Respondents: 21,623,495.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: Occasionally; 
Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 142,800,634.27.

Rachelle Ragland-Greene,
Acting Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2024-03749 Filed 2-22-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P