Notice2023-11386
Agency Information Collection Activities: Assessment of Mobile Technologies for Using Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Benefits
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Published
May 30, 2023
Issuing agencies
Agriculture DepartmentFood and Nutrition Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice invites the general public and other public agencies to comment on this proposed information collection. This is a new collection for the contract Assessment of Mobile Technologies for Using Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Benefits (Mobile Payment Pilot evaluation). The purpose of the Mobile Payment Pilot evaluation is to assess the effects of five pilot projects that will allow SNAP participants to use mobile payments to purchase food as an alternate option to a physical electronic benefit transfer (EBT) card.
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 103 (Tuesday, May 30, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 103 (Tuesday, May 30, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34475-34479]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-11386]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food and Nutrition Service
Agency Information Collection Activities: Assessment of Mobile
Technologies for Using Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
Benefits
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 this proposed information collection. This is a new collection for
the contract Assessment of Mobile Technologies for Using Supplemental
Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Benefits (Mobile Payment Pilot
evaluation). The purpose of the Mobile Payment Pilot evaluation is to
assess the effects of five pilot projects that will allow SNAP
participants to use mobile payments to purchase food as an alternate
option to a physical electronic benefit transfer (EBT) card.
DATES: Written comments must be received on or before July 31, 2023.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be sent to: Maya Sandalow, Food and Nutrition
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1320 Braddock Place, 5th
floor, Alexandria, VA 22314. Comments may also be submitted via email
to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#d5b8b4acb4fba6b4bbb1b4b9baa295a0a6b1b4fbb2baa3"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="caa7abb3abe4b9aba4aeaba6a5bd8abfb9aeabe4ada5bc">[email protected]</span></a>. Comments will also be accepted through the
Federal eRulemaking Portal. Go to <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a>, 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 Maya
Sandalow at (703) 305-1615.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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.
Title: Assessment of Mobile Technologies for Using SNAP Benefits
(Mobile Payment Pilot).
Form Number: N/A.
OMB Number: Not Yet Assigned.
Expiration Date: Not Yet Determined.
Type of Request: New Collection.
Abstract: The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
provides monthly benefits to low-income households to reduce food
insecurity and improve health and well-being. Benefits are delivered
via electronic benefit transfer (EBT), which is accepted at more than
250,000 authorized retailers nationwide. For nearly two decades, SNAP
participants have used EBT in person at retailers, where they swipe
their card at checkout using a point of sale (POS) terminal and enter
their personal identification number (PIN) to pay for their purchases.
The Agricultural Act of 2018 (2018 Farm Bill) authorized the use of
mobile payments from devices like cell phones, tablets, and smart
watches, as an alternate option to a physical electronic benefit
transfer (EBT) card to conduct a SNAP transaction. This authorization
was subject to the result of five mobile payment pilot projects. Mobile
payments may improve the customer experience; save participant and
retailer time; reduce potential stigma of using EBT; reduce costs; and
prevent benefit fraud, loss, or theft.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
(FNS) selected five State SNAP agencies to participate in the Mobile
Payment Pilot: Illinois, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Missouri, and
Oklahoma. These State pilots include a variety of design implementation
strategies in terms of payment model, retail partnerships, marketing
plans, and pilot scale. The Mobile Payment Pilot Evaluation will assess
the effects of the pilots, using information obtained from FNS,
selected State SNAP agencies, retailers, and SNAP participants. The
evaluation has four objectives: (1) assessing the implementation of the
pilots, (2) examining the adoption and use of mobile technologies, (3)
understanding implications for program integrity, and (4) assessing
replicability and costs. In each of the five sites, the evaluation will
conduct three rounds of semi-structured interviews with State SNAP
agencies, EBT processors, retailers, and other partners. Interviews
will occur during the pilot planning period and once the pilots are
implemented, and will collect information about the pilot design and
implementation.
In each of the five sites, the evaluation will also conduct two, 5-
minute surveys and four focus groups among SNAP participants. One
survey will be conducted among 250 participants who used mobile
payments and the other will be conducted among 250 participants who did
not use mobile payments. Similarly, two focus groups will be conducted
with participants who used the technology and two others will be
conducted with participants who did not use it.
In addition, the evaluation will collect SNAP administrative data,
cost data, and retailer transaction data from the FNS ALERT and STARS
systems. These data will be used to describe the adoption of mobile
payment technologies and benefit redemption patterns by participant,
retailer, and community characteristics.
Data collected from staff at State SNAP agencies, partners (such as
EBT processors, mobile application vendors, and payment providers), and
retailers will be used to describe how the pilots were planned and
implemented. Data collected from SNAP participants will provide more
information about their decisions to use or not use mobile payments,
barriers to use, and participant satisfaction and user experience.
Administrative, cost, and transaction data will provide insights on
adoption and use of mobile payments. Ultimately, the findings will
guide FNS in determining if expanding availability of mobile payments
nationwide is cost-effective, secure, and accessible to participants.
Affected Public: Respondent groups identified include: SNAP
participants in the pilot areas; members of State SNAP agencies;
retailers in the pilot areas; and mobile payment processers and other
vendors.
Estimated Number of Respondents: The total estimated number of
respondents is 21,246. The number of respondents includes: 20,330 SNAP
participants (13% of whom will complete surveys or focus groups); 103
State SNAP agency and other State agency staff; 210 staff from
businesses supporting the Mobile Payment Pilots (such as mobile payment
processors, mobile application providers, EBT hotlines, EBT processors,
and/or token services providers); and 603 retailer staff offering
mobile payments, including managers and other staff. The total
estimated number of non-respondents is 11,190 and includes 10,934 SNAP
participants (who will be contacted to
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complete surveys or focus groups), 252 staff from businesses, and 4
State SNAP agency or other State agency staff.
The evaluation team will pretest the survey and semi-structured
interviews. The team will conduct pretest interviews with nine SNAP
participants for the two survey instruments, three State SNAP agency
staff members for the key informant interview guide, and three retailer
staff members for the retailer interview guide.
Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: Across all
respondents, the average number of responses is 7.91. Respondent groups
include:
(1) SNAP participants who did and did not use mobile payments,
(2) State SNAP agency, other State agency, and business staff
(including vendors who provide mobile application development,
electronic benefit transfer processing, payment providers, and other
services in support of mobile payments),
(3) Retailer staff overseeing the provision of mobile payments for
the pilot projects at a corporate level, or staff working in a retailer
location offering mobile payments.
SNAP participants in the pilot areas will be asked to participate
in one survey or focus group (including participants who did or did not
use mobile payments). SNAP participants will receive an advance letter
to notify them about the survey, emails or text messages to assess
their interest in participating in the survey, and a reminder letter to
encourage them to complete the survey. Participants who choose to
complete the survey will complete a five minute web or phone survey.
SNAP participants in the pilot areas may also receive emails or text
messages to ask if they would be interested in participating in a focus
group. If they choose to participate in a focus group, the participant
would receive a text message or phone call with several questions to
ensure they are eligible to participate, followed by reminder emails or
text messages to encourage them to attend the in-person focus group.
State SNAP agency, other State agency, and business staff will
respond to up to three in-person or telephone interviews. Staff from
these entities will receive an email to invite them to participate in
an interview, before participating in an interview lasting up to 60
minutes. Selected State SNAP agency staff will provide administrative
data one time and cost data on a quarterly basis 10 times.
Retailer staff will respond to up to two in-person interviews.
Retailer staff will receive a screening telephone call to invite the
retail store to participate in interviews with staff. The screener will
include several questions to help the evaluation team tailor interview
protocols for the store in advance. Following the screener, the retail
store manager or other applicable staff will receive an email to invite
them to participate in an interview. Each interview with a retail staff
member will last between 15 and 30 minutes.
Estimated Total Annual Responses: 254,963 (168,077 respondents and
86,886 nonrespondents).
Estimated Time per Response: The estimated time of response varies
from a few minutes to over an hour, depending on the respondent group,
but averages 0.027 hours (or about 2 minutes) for all respondents as
shown in the table below. State SNAP agency providing administrative
and cost data will spend up to 8 hours per response.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 415,467 minutes
(6,924 hours). See the table below for estimated total annual burden
for each type of respondent.
Tameka Owens,
Assistant Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
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Responsive Non-responsive Grand
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- total Total
Sample annual Hourly annualized
Type of respondents Instruments size Number of Frequency Total Hours per Annual Number of Frequency Total Hours per Annual burden wage cost of
respondents of annual response burden non- of annual response burden estimate rate respondent
response responses (hours) respondents response responses (hours) (hours) burden
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Individuals/Household
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SNAP Participants........................... Pretest: Client Experience 12 9 1 9 0.5000 4.5 3 1 3 0.0167 0.1 4.6 $7.25 $42.88
Survey.
SNAP Participants........................... Pretest: Survey of Non-Adopters 12 9 1 9 0.5000 4.5 3 1 3 0.0167 0.1 4.6 7.25 42.88
SNAP Participants........................... Client Experience Survey: 12,500 10,000 1 10,000 0.0501 501.0 2,500 1 2,500 0.0501 125.3 626.3 7.25 5,902.41
Advance Letter.
SNAP Participants........................... Client Experience Survey: Email/ 10,000 8,000 8 64,000 0.0167 1,068.8 2,000 8 16,000 0.0167 267.2 1,336.0 7.25 12,591.80
Text.
SNAP Participants........................... Client Experience Survey: 8,125 6,500 1 6,500 0.0501 325.7 1,625 1 1,625 0.0501 81.4 407.1 7.25 3,836.56
Reminder Letter.
SNAP Participants........................... Client Experience Survey....... 12,500 1,250 1 1,250 0.0835 104.4 11,250 1 11,250 0.0167 187.9 292.3 7.25 2,754.46
SNAP Participants........................... Survey of Non-Adopters: Advance 12,500 10,000 1 10,000 0.0501 501.0 2,500 1 2,500 0.0501 125.3 626.3 7.25 5,902.41
Letter.
SNAP Participants........................... Survey of Non-Adopters: Email/ 10,000 8,000 8 64,000 0.0167 1,068.8 2,000 8 16,000 0.0167 267.2 1,336.0 7.25 12,591.80
Text.
SNAP Participants........................... Survey of Non-Adopters: 8,125 6,500 1 6,500 0.0501 325.7 1,625 1 1,625 0.0501 81.4 407.1 7.25 3,836.56
Reminder Letter.
SNAP Participants........................... Survey of Non-Adopters......... 12,500 1,250 1 1,250 0.0900 112.5 11,250 1 11,250 0.0167 187.9 300.4 7.25 2,831.03
SNAP Participants........................... Focus Group: Recruitment Email/ 6,240 312 4 1,248 0.0167 20.8 5,928 4 23,712 0.0167 396.0 416.8 7.25 3,928.64
Text.
SNAP Participants........................... Focus Group: Screener.......... 312 250 1 250 0.0501 12.5 62 1 62 0.0167 1.0 13.6 7.25 127.81
SNAP Participants........................... Focus Group: Reminder emails/ 250 200 2 400 0.0167 6.7 50 2 100 0.0167 1.7 8.4 7.25 78.70
texts.
SNAP Participants........................... Focus Group Discussion Guide... 200 200 1 200 1.50 300.0 0 1 0 0.00 0.0 300.0 7.25 2,827.50
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31,264 20,330 8.15 165,616 0.026 4,357 10,934 7.92 86,630 0.020 1,722 6,079 ........ 57,295.45
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Business (Profit, Non-Profit, or Farm)
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Retail Business Staff....................... Pretest: Semi-structured 3 3 1 3 1.00 3.0 0 1 0 0.0167 0.0 3.0 59.31 231.31
interview guide.
Vendor Staff................................ Business: Semi-structured 262 210 1 210 0.0167 3.5 52 1 52 0.0167 0.9 4.4 59.31 337.36
interview invitation email.
Vendor Staff................................ Business: Semi-structured 210 210 1 210 1.00 210.0 0 1 0 0.00 0.0 210.0 59.31 16,191.63
interview guide.
Retail Business Staff....................... Retailer: Interview Screener... 800 600 1 600 0.0501 7.5 50 1 50 0.0167 0.8 8.4 22.15 961.75
Retail Business Staff....................... Retailer: Semi-structured 600 600 1 600 0.0167 2.5 0 1 0 0.00 0.0 2.5 22.15 288.53
interview invitation email.
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Retail Business Staff....................... Retailer: Semi-structured 600 600 1 600 0.50 225.0 0 1 0 0.00 0.0 225.0 22.15 8,638.50
interview guide.
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1,065 813 2.73 2,223 0.250 557 252 1.00 252 0.017 4.208 561 ........ 26,649.07
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State Government
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State Program Staff......................... Pretest: Semi-structured 3 3 1 3 1.00 1.0 0 1 0 0.0167 0.0 1.0 59.31 231.31
interview guide.
State Program Staff......................... State agency: Semi-structured 94 90 1 90 0.0167 2 4 1 4 0.0167 0.07 1.57 59.31 121.04
interview invitation email.
State Program Staff......................... State agency: Semi-structured 90 90 1 90 1.00 90 0 1 0 0.00 0.0 90.00 59.31 6,939.27
interview guide.
State Program Staff......................... Provide Administrative Data.... 5 5 1 5 8.00 40 0 1 0 0.00 0.0 40.00 59.31 3,084.12
State Program Staff......................... Provide Cost Data.............. 5 5 10 50 3.00 150 0 1 0 0.00 0.0 150.00 59.31 11,565.45
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107 103 2.31 238 1.195 285 4 1.000 4 0.017 0.1 284.57 ........ 21,941.19
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Total................................... ............................... 32,436 21,246 7.911 168,077 0.031 5,198 11,190 8 86,886 0.020 1,727 6,924 ........ 105,885.71
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[FR Doc. 2023-11386 Filed 5-26-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P
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