Agency Information Collection Activities, Proposed Collection: Request for Comments on Understanding Participant Experiences in SNAP E&T

Issuing agencies

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 for the Understanding Participant Experiences in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Employment and Training (E&T) study. This is a new information collection request. The purpose of this collection is to gather information about how SNAP participants experience SNAP work requirements and the SNAP E&T program, and to identify recommendations to help programs improve their customer service and efficiently connect participants with training and services that meet their needs.

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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 161 (Friday, August 21, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54296-54297]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-17086]


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Federal Register / Vol. 91, No. 161 / Friday, August 21, 2026 / 
Notices

[[Page 54296]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Administration


Agency Information Collection Activities, Proposed Collection: 
Request for Comments on Understanding Participant Experiences in SNAP 
E&T

AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Administration (FNA), 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 for the Understanding 
Participant Experiences in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program 
(SNAP) Employment and Training (E&T) study. This is a new information 
collection request. The purpose of this collection is to gather 
information about how SNAP participants experience SNAP work 
requirements and the SNAP E&T program, and to identify recommendations 
to help programs improve their customer service and efficiently connect 
participants with training and services that meet their needs.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before October 20, 2026.

ADDRESSES: Comments may bemailed to Kristen Corey, Food and Nutrition 
Administration, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1320 Braddock Place, 
5th floor, Alexandria, VA 22314 or submitted via email to 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#fb908992888f9e95d59894899e82bb8e889f9ad59c948d"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b9d2cbd0cacddcd797dad6cbdcc0f9cccaddd897ded6cf">[email&#160;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 Kristen 
Corey at 703-305-2517.

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: Understanding Participant Experiences in SNAP E&T.
    Form Number: N/A.
    OMB Number: 0584-NEW.
    Expiration Date: Not yet determined.
    Type of Request: New collection.
    Abstract: The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) 
offers a vital lifeline to low-income Americans, preventing hunger 
during difficult times. When determining SNAP eligibility, States must 
identify anyone in the household that is (1) subject to general work 
requirements, (2) subject to a time limit on benefits if they are not 
meeting work requirements, and (3) required to participate in the 
State's SNAP Employment and Training (E&T) program. States vary 
considerably in how they determine eligibility, share information about 
work requirements and employment and training opportunities, and make 
referrals to SNAP E&T programs. The Understanding Participant 
Experiences in SNAP E&T study will help the U.S. Department of 
Agriculture (USDA), Food and Nutrition Administration (FNA) understand 
how SNAP participants experience SNAP work requirements and the SNAP 
E&T program. The findings will be used to identify recommendations to 
help programs improve SNAP and SNAP E&T customer service and 
efficiently connect participants with training and services that meet 
their needs.
    We expect four States to participate in the project, including two 
States that operate mandatory SNAP E&T programs and two States that 
operate voluntary SNAP E&T programs. The project aims to (1) explore 
SNAP work registrants' understanding of work requirements when 
certifying or recertifying for SNAP eligibility; (2) describe SNAP work 
registrants' experiences accessing SNAP E&T services and finding 
training opportunities that meet their needs; (3) assess the 
experiences of individuals as they participate in SNAP E&T; and (4) 
develop recommendations that States can use to support program 
participants in navigating work requirements and SNAP E&T.
    To achieve the research objectives, the project will document and 
describe the experiences of SNAP participants in the four States 
through two qualitative research methods: photovoice and in-depth 
interviews. Photovoice engages participants in structured activities 
where they use photos they have taken to guide interviews with 
researchers. The interviews will focus on and highlight themes and 
issues most significant to participants about SNAP E&T. In-depth 
interviews will provide rich, detailed accounts of participants' 
thoughts, behaviors, and experiences with work requirements and in SNAP 
E&T programs. Finally, the project will include video interviews with 
SNAP E&T participants and staff that provide E&T services to create a 
multimedia deliverable that tells a complete story of navigating work 
requirements and engaging with SNAP E&T. The study team will work with 
FNA to select and recruit State agencies and SNAP E&T providers that 
offer direct services to SNAP participants to support the recruitment 
for photovoice and in-depth interviews.
    Affected public. Members of the public affected by the data 
collection include individuals and households, State and local 
government workers from SNAP agencies in four States, and staff at not-
for-profit and for-profit organizations that provide services to SNAP 
E&T participants. Respondent groups will include: (1) SNAP E&T program 
participants; (2) directors and managers from State and local 
government agencies supporting SNAP

[[Page 54297]]

E&T programs; and (3) staff at providers that offer direct services to 
SNAP E&T participants.
    Estimated number of respondents. SNAP E&T participants will be 
asked to participate in either a photovoice interview or an in-depth 
interview (which include several possible notifications), as well as a 
possible video interview for the multimedia deliverable. State and 
local government staff and staff that provide SNAP E&T services will 
respond to study recruitment efforts (which include several possible 
notifications), and an administrative data request. The total estimated 
number of unique respondents--which includes everyone contacted for 
data collection regardless of whether they participate--is 1,825. This 
includes up to 1,756 individuals/households, 23 State and local 
government staff, and 46 staff that provide E&T services. The study 
team will contact 1,825 individuals/households; 779 will be respondents 
and 977 will be non-respondents. Of the 779 respondents, 20 will 
participate in photovoice interviews, 160 will participate in an in-
depth interview, and 11 will participate in pre-testing the photovoice 
and in-depth interview instruments.
    Among individuals participating in the photovoice and in-depth 
interviews, 15 will also be contacted again to participate in video 
interviews for the multimedia deliverable; of these, 10 will be 
respondents and 5 will be non-respondents.
    Before the start of data collection in one non-study State, the 
study team will pretest all photovoice activities (including the 
consent form, the kickoff session, the photo submission form, and the 
interview discussion guide) with three SNAP E&T participants. We will 
also pretest the in-depth interview guide with eight SNAP E&T 
participants in two non-study States.
    To begin recruiting participants, the study team will contact 23 
State SNAP agency staff, which includes State program staff and State 
data systems staff; 14 will be respondents and 9 will be non-
respondents. All four of the State data systems staff will provide 
administrative data which will be used to recruit SNAP E&T 
participants. The study team will contact 32 staff from not-for-profit 
and eight staff at for-profit organizations that serve as SNAP E&T 
providers to support the recruitment effort for the photovoice 
interviews and in-depth interviews. Among staff that provide E&T 
services participating in the recruitment effort, eight individuals 
will also be contacted again to participate in interviews for the 
multimedia deliverable.
    Estimated number of responses per respondent. Across all 1,825 
unique respondents (839 respondents and 986 non-respondents) and 3,235 
annual responses, the average number of responses is 1.77.
    Estimated total annual responses. 3,235.
    Estimated time per response. The estimated time per response ranges 
from 0.033 hours for activities related to reading flyers for 
photovoice and in-depth interview recruitment to 8 hours for State data 
systems staff to provide administrative data. The response time will 
vary depending on the respondent group, with an average estimated time 
of 11.74 minutes (0.20 hours).
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents. The total estimated 
annual burden on respondents is 37,971.62 minutes (632.86 hours).

Eve Stoody,
Deputy Administrator, Nutrition Research and Regulations.
[FR Doc. 2026-17086 Filed 8-20-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P


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