Agency Information Collection Activities: Reasons for Under-Redemption of the WIC Cash-Value Benefit

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Published

July 12, 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 collection is a NEW information collection. This study informs the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) about the reasons behind under-redemption of the cash-value benefit (CVB) issued to participants in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 132 (Wednesday, July 12, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 132 (Wednesday, July 12, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44253-44258]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-14655]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service

Agency Information Collection Activities: Reasons for Under-
Redemption of the WIC Cash-Value Benefit

AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), Department of Agriculture
(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 collection is a NEW
information collection. This study informs the U.S. Department of
Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) about the reasons behind
under-redemption of the cash-value benefit (CVB) issued to participants
in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and
Children (WIC).

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before September 11,
2023.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be sent to Summer Weber, Food and Nutrition
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1320 Braddock Place,
Alexandria, VA 22314. Comments may also be submitted via fax to the
attention of Summer Weber at 815-319-5697 or via email at
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#691a1c04040c1b471e0c0b0c1b291c1a0d08470e061f"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="3241475f5f57401c455750574072474156531c555d44">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>. Comments will also be accepted through the
Federal eRulemaking Portal. Go to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://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 Summer
Weber at

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815-319-5697 or <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection" class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="1241677f7f77603c457770776052676176733c757d64">[email&#160;protected]</a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP),
which was signed into law in March 2021, included provisions allowing
the USDA to temporarily increase the Cash Value Voucher/Benefit (CVV/B)
for certain food packages through September 30, 2021. This CVB increase
was further extended by Congress and is in place for fiscal year (FY)
2023. This increased CVB amount may reduce barriers to full utilization
of the benefit. FNS is particularly interested in how State agency
policies and practices as well as the temporary benefit increase
affects CVB redemption rates.
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: Reasons for Under-Redemption of the WIC Cash-Value Benefit.
Form Number: N/A.
OMB Number: Not yet assigned.
Expiration Date: Not yet determined.
Type of Request: New collection.
Abstract: The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women,
Infants, and Children (WIC) provides nutritious supplemental foods,
healthcare referrals, breastfeeding support, and nutrition education to
low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum women, infants and
children up to age 5 who are at nutritional risk. A final rule, Special
Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC):
Revisions in the WIC Food Packages, was published in the Federal
Register on March 4, 2014 (79 FR 12274) that revised the WIC food
packages to add a monthly cash-value benefit (CVB) for the purchase of
fruits and vegetables. This rule also detailed specific provisions for
the value of the CVB, the types of fruits and vegetables authorized,
and other State options for providing this benefit. Recent studies have
estimated that redemption rates for CVBs range from 73 percent to 77
percent; <SUP>1 2</SUP> however, the reasons for under-redemption of
this benefit have not been fully explored. FNS has funded this study to
determine the barriers to CVB redemption and the effects of State
agency policies, practices, and other factors on CVB redemption rates.
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\1\ Phillips, D., Bell, L., Morgan, R., & Pooler, J. (2014).
Transition to EBT in WIC: Review of impact and examination of
participant redemption patterns: Final report. Retrieved from
<a href="https://altarum.org/sites/default/files/uploaded-publication-files/Altarum_Transition%20to%20WIC%20EBT_Final%20Report_071614.pdf">https://altarum.org/sites/default/files/uploaded-publication-files/Altarum_Transition%20to%20WIC%20EBT_Final%20Report_071614.pdf</a>.
\2\ National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.
(2017). Review of WIC food packages: Improving balance and choice:
Final report. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. DOI:
<a href="https://doi.org/10.17226/23655">https://doi.org/10.17226/23655</a>.
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There are a variety of WIC State agency policies and practices that
may contribute to CVB under-redemption, including but not limited to:
vendor authorization and selection policies, the forms of fruits and
vegetables allowed, vendor minimum stocking requirements, and
participant tools and training available. Other State and household
factors may also affect redemption rates, such as geographic access to
WIC vendors or household preferences for certain types of fruits and
vegetables. In addition, the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP),
which was signed into law on March 11, 2021 (Pub. L. 117-2), included
provisions allowing the USDA to temporarily increase the CVV/B for
certain food packages through September 30, 2021. This provision
increased the current monthly amounts from $9 for children and $11 for
women to up to $35 monthly.\3\ On September 30, 2021, Congress passed
Public Law 117-43 (Extending Government Funding and Delivering
Emergency Assistance Act) to extend the CVB increase until December 31,
2021. This extension aligned WIC benefit levels with the National
Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM)
recommendations of $24/month for children, $43/month for pregnant and
postpartum participants, and $47/month for breastfeeding participants.
Congress subsequently passed Public Law 117-70 and Public Law 117-103
which further extended the CVB benefit at the NASEM-recommended amounts
through September 30, 2022.<SUP>4 5</SUP> For FY 2023, the CVB was
increased to $25 for child participants, $44 for pregnant and
postpartum participants, and $49 for fully and partially breastfeeding
participants. These increased CVB amounts may reduce barriers to full
utilization of the benefit. The temporary CVB increase offers a unique
opportunity to test whether CVB redemption rates changed after
implementation and whether certain State policy and participant-level
factors impacted these rate changes.
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\3\ USDA FNS (2021). WIC Policy Memorandum #2021-3: State Agency
Option to Temporarily Increase the Cash-Value Voucher/Benefit for
Fruit and Vegetable Purchases. Retrieved from: <a href="https://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/policy-memorandum-2021-3">https://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/policy-memorandum-2021-3</a>.
\4\ USDA FNS (2021). WIC Policy Memorandum #2022-2: Extending
the Temporary Increase in the Cash-Value Voucher/Benefit. Retrieved
from: <a href="https://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/policy-memo-2022-2-extending-temporary-increase-cash-value-voucher-benefit">https://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/policy-memo-2022-2-extending-temporary-increase-cash-value-voucher-benefit</a>.
\5\ USDA FNS (2022). WIC Policy Memorandum #2022-8: Monthly
Cash-Value Voucher/Benefit for FY 2023 Fruit and Vegetable
Purchases. Retrieved from: <a href="https://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/monthly-cash-value-voucherbenefit-2023-fruit-vegetable">https://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/monthly-cash-value-voucherbenefit-2023-fruit-vegetable</a>.
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In order to identify the factors associated with CVB redemption and
examine the effects of State agency policies and practices on CVB
redemption rates, FNS is conducting a study in 12 States, with more in-
depth data collection occurring in 8 of these States. The study will
gather data from WIC State agency staff, administrative records, and
WIC participants. Administrative record collection will include
electronic benefit transfer (EBT) data previously collected from 12
State agencies for the WIC Food Cost Containment Practices study (OMB
Number 0584-0627 WIC Food Package Costs and Cost Containment Study,
Discontinued 09/30/2020) as well as EBT and certification data from 8
States for a 12-month period during which States implemented the CVB
increase in 2021-2022. EBT data will be used to calculate rates in the
study State agencies and, in conjunction with the policy data, will be
used to assess the ways in which redemption rates vary with differences
in policies and practices. Participant and State agency staff
interviews in 8 of the 12 States will be used to understand the factors
that are most salient to participants in making decisions about
purchasing fruits and vegetables with their CVB and barriers to
redemption.
Affected Public: (1) State, local, and tribal governments; (2)
nonprofits; and (3) individuals/households. Identified respondent
groups include the following:
1. State, local, and tribal governments: State agency staff and
database administrators in eight States, local agency staff at twelve
local agencies, and clinic staff at twelve clinics
2. Nonprofits: staff at four local agencies and four WIC clinics
\6\
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\6\ Local agencies and clinics may be either government or
nonprofit organizations. It is assumed that no contacted local
agencies or clinics will refuse to participate.

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3. Individuals: WIC participants in eight study States
Estimated Number of Respondents: The total estimated number of
respondents is 625 (40 State and local government staff, 8 nonprofit
staff, and 577 individuals). Of the 625 respondents to be contacted,
505 are expected to be responsive, and 120 are expected to be
nonresponsive. The breakout follows:
1. 40 State and local government staff: Of 16 State agency staff to
be contacted across 8 States, 16 are expected to be responsive; of 12
local agency staff contacted across 12 local agencies, 12 are expected
to be responsive; of 12 clinic staff contacted across 12 clinics, 12
are expected to be responsive.
2. 8 nonprofit staff: Of 4 local agency staff contacted across 4
local agencies, 4 are expected to be responsive; of 4 clinic staff to
be contacted across 4 clinics, 4 are expected to be responsive.
3. 577 individuals: 9 individuals are expected to participate in a
pretest. Of 577 individuals to be contacted for the main study, 457 are
expected to be responsive, with 120 non-responsive.
Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 4.01 across the
entire collection. This is based on the estimated 2,505 total annual
responses (2,225 responsive and 280 nonresponsive) to be made by the
625 respondents. See table 1 for the estimated number of responses per
respondent for each type of respondent. The breakout follows:
1. WIC State agency staff: Eight WIC State agency staff will be
asked to complete one semi-structured telephone interview each. Prior
to interviews, State agency staff will receive advance communications
about the study (a letter and frequently asked questions (FAQ) sheet);
the same State agency staff will receive a recruitment email and take
part in a recruitment call.
2. Database administrator: Database administrators from each of the
eight State agencies will be asked to respond to the EBT and
certification data requests.
3. WIC local agency staff (including State, local, and tribal
governments and non-profits): 16 WIC local agency staff (12 from State,
local, or tribal government and 4 from non-profits) will be asked to
assist with coordination of WIC participant recruitment for the study.
These 16 WIC local agency staff will receive advance communications
about the study (a letter and FAQ sheet); the same WIC local agency
staff will receive a recruitment email and take part in a recruitment
call.
4. WIC clinic staff (including state, local, and tribal governments
and non-profits): 16 WIC clinic staff (12 from State, local, or tribal
government and 4 from non-profits) will be asked to assist with
coordination of WIC participant recruitment for the study. These 16 WIC
clinic staff will receive advance communications about the study (a
letter and FAQ sheet); the same WIC clinic staff will receive a
recruitment email and take part in a recruitment call.
5. Individuals (WIC participants): The estimated total number of
responses per all of the individuals (WIC participants) in the study is
4.0. In total, nine individuals will participate in a pretest. 568
individuals will receive a study brochure; of these, 448 are expected
to participate in an eligibility screener for a telephone interview. Of
the 328 who are eligible to participate, 288 are expected to
participate in a telephone interview and complete the consent form.
Forty individuals are expected to decline participation and not
complete the consent form. All 288 individuals who complete consent
forms are expected to participate in the interviews and the demographic
survey. A total of 104 individuals are expected to receive reminder
calls about participating in a telephone interview. FNS estimates that
120 of the WIC participants will be non-responsive.
Estimated Total Annual Responses: 2,505 (2,225 annual responses for
responsive participants and 280 annual responses for nonresponsive
participants).
Estimated Time per Response: The estimated average response time is
0.13 hours for all respondents (0.14 hours for responsive participants
and 0.05 hours for nonresponsive participants). The estimated time of
response varies from 30 seconds (0.0083 hours) to 2.5 hours depending
on respondent group and activity, as shown in table 1.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 327.83 hours (313.80
hours for responsive participants, and 14.03 hours for nonresponsive
participants). See table 1 for estimated total annual burden for each
type of respondent.

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Table 1--Total Public Burden Hours and Respondent Costs
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Responsive Nonresponsive Grand
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Instruments and Sample annual
Respondent category Type of respondent activities size Number of Frequency Total Hours per Annual Number of Frequency Total Hours per Annual burden
respondents of annual response burden non- of annual response burden estimate
response responses (hours) respondents response responses (hours) (Hours)
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State, Local, and Tribal Government
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State, Local, and Tribal Government.... WIC State agency staff.... Advance communications 8 8 1 8 0.10 0.80 0 0 0 0.00 0.00 0.80
(letter).
WIC State agency staff.... Advance communications 8 8 1 8 0.10 0.80 0 0 0 0.00 0.00 0.80
(FAQ sheet).
WIC State agency staff.... Recruitment call.......... 8 8 1 8 0.75 6.00 0 0 0 0.00 0.00 6.00
WIC State agency staff.... Reminder email............ 8 8 1 8 0.05 0.40 0 0 0 0.00 0.00 0.40
WIC State agency staff.... Telephone interviews with 8 8 1 8 1.00 8.00 0 0 0 0.00 0.00 8.00
up to two staff per State.
Database administrator.... EBT data.................. 8 8 1 8 1.50 12.00 0 0 0 0.00 0.00 12.00
Database administrator.... Certification data........ 8 8 1 8 2.50 20.00 0 0 0 0.00 0.00 20.00
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WIC State agency staff subtotal 16 16 4 56 0.86 48.00 0 0 0 0.00 0.00 48.00
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WIC local agency staff.... Advance communications 12 12 1 12 0.10 1.20 0 0 0 0.00 0.00 1.20
(letter).
WIC local agency staff.... Advance communications 12 12 1 12 0.10 1.20 0 0 0 0.00 0.00 1.20
(FAQ sheet).
WIC local agency staff.... Recruitment call.......... 12 12 1 12 0.75 9.00 0 0 0 0.00 0.00 9.00
WIC local agency staff.... Reminder email............ 12 12 1 12 0.05 0.60 0 0 0 0.00 0.00 0.60
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WIC local agency staff subtotal 12 12 4 48 0.25 12.01 0 0 0 0.00 0.00 12.01
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Clinic staff.............. Advance communications 12 12 1 12 0.10 1.20 0 0 0 0.00 0.00 1.20
(letter).
Clinic staff.............. Advance communications 12 12 1 12 0.10 1.20 0 0 0 0.00 0.00 1.20
(FAQ sheet).
Clinic staff.............. Recruitment call.......... 12 12 1 12 0.75 9.00 0 0 0 0.00 0.00 9.00
Clinic staff.............. Reminder email............ 12 12 1 12 0.05 0.60 0 0 0 0.00 0.00 0.60
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Clinic staff subtotal 12 12 4 48 0.25 12.01 0 0 0 0.00 0.00 12
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State and local government subtotal 40 40 4 152 0.47 72.02 0 0 0 0.00 0.00 72
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Nonprofit
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Nonprofit.............................. WIC local agency staff.... Advance communications 4 4 1 4 0.10 0.40 0 0 0 0.00 0.00 0.40
(letter).
WIC local agency staff.... Advance communications 4 4 1 4 0.10 0.40 0 0 0 0.00 0.00 0.40
(FAQ sheet).
WIC local agency staff.... Recruitment call.......... 4 4 1 4 0.75 3.00 0 0 0 0.00 0.00 3.00
WIC local agency staff.... Reminder email............ 4 4 1 4 0.05 0.20 0 0 0 0.00 0.00 0.20
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WIC local agency staff subtotal 4 4 4 16 0.25 4.00 0 0 0 0.00 0.00 4.00
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Clinic staff.............. Advance communications 4 4 1 4 0.10 0.40 0 0 0 0.00 0.00 0.40
(letter).
Clinic staff.............. Advance communications 4 4 1 4 0.10 0.40 0 0 0 0.00 0.00 0.40
(FAQ sheet).
Clinic staff.............. Recruitment call.......... 4 4 1 4 0.75 3.00 0 0 0 0.00 0.00 3.00
Clinic staff.............. Reminder email............ 4 4 1 4 0.05 0.20 0 0 0 0.00 0.00 0.20
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Clinic staff subtotal 4 4 4 16 0.25 4.00 0 0 0 0.00 0.00 4.00
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Nonprofit subtotal 8 8 4 32 0.25 8.00 0 0 0 0.00 0.00 8.00
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Individuals
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Individuals............................ WIC participants.......... Pretest................... 9 9 1 9 0.75 6.75 0 0 0 0.00 0.00 6.75
WIC participants.......... Study brochure............ 568 448 1 448 0.05 22.44 120 1 120 0.05 6.01 28.46
WIC participants.......... Eligibility screener form. 448 328 1 328 0.05 16.43 120 1 120 0.05 6.01 22.44
WIC participants.......... Reminder call............. 104 104 1 104 0.0083 0.86 0 0 0 0.00 0.00 0.86
WIC participants.......... Consent form.............. 328 288 1 288 0.03 9.62 40 1 40 0.05 2.00 11.62
WIC participants.......... Interview protocol........ 288 288 1 288 0.50 144.00 0 0 0 0.00 0.00 144.00
WIC participants.......... Demographic survey........ 288 288 1 288 0.07 19.24 0 0 0 0.00 0.00 19.24
WIC participants.......... Thank-you note............ 288 288 1 288 0.05 14.43 0 0 0 0.00 0.00 14.43
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Individual subtotal 577 457 4.47 2,041 0.11 233.78 120 2.33 280 0.05 14.03 247.81
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Total 625 505 4.41 2,225 0.14 313.80 120 2.33 280 0.05 14.03 327.83
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Tameka Owens,
Assistant Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-14655 Filed 7-11-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P

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