82_FR_13837 82 FR 13788 - Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC): 2017/2018 Income Eligibility Guidelines

82 FR 13788 - Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC): 2017/2018 Income Eligibility Guidelines

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food and Nutrition Service

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 49 (March 15, 2017)

Page Range13788-13791
FR Document2017-05119

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (``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 (WIC). These income eligibility guidelines are to be used in conjunction with the WIC Regulations.

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 49 (Wednesday, March 15, 2017)
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 49 (Wednesday, March 15, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13788-13791]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-05119]


========================================================================
Notices
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, 
delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
statements of organization and functions are examples of documents 
appearing in this section.

========================================================================


Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 49 / Wednesday, March 15, 2017 / 
Notices

[[Page 13788]]


=======================================================================
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service


Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and 
Children (WIC): 2017/2018 Income Eligibility Guidelines

AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), Department of Agriculture 
(USDA).

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (``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 (WIC). These income eligibility guidelines are to be used in 
conjunction with the WIC Regulations.

DATES: Effective date July 1, 2017.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kurtria Watson, Chief, Policy Branch, 
Supplemental Food Programs Division, FNS, USDA, 3101 Park Center Drive, 
Alexandria, Virginia 22302, (703) 605-4387.

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 
29100, June 24, 1983, and 49 FR 22675, 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 
2017 was published by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) 
at 82 FR 8831, January 31, 2017. 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 guidelines established under 
section 9 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act for 
reduced-price school meals, or identical to State or local guidelines 
for free or reduced-price health care. However, in conforming WIC 
income guidelines to State or local health care guidelines, the State 
cannot establish WIC guidelines which exceed the guidelines for 
reduced-price school meals, or which are less than 100 percent of the 
Federal poverty guidelines. Consistent with the method used to compute 
income eligibility guidelines for reduced-price meals under the 
National School Lunch Program, the poverty guidelines were multiplied 
by 1.85 and the results rounded upward to the next whole dollar.
    At this time, the Department is publishing the maximum and minimum 
WIC income eligibility guidelines by household size for the period of 
July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018. Consistent with section 17(f)(17) 
of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966, as amended (42 U.S.C. 1786(f)(17)), 
a State agency may implement the revised WIC income eligibility 
guidelines concurrently with the implementation of income eligibility 
guidelines under the Medicaid Program established under Title XIX of 
the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396, et seq.). State agencies may 
coordinate implementation with the revised Medicaid guidelines, i.e., 
earlier in the year, but in no case may implementation take place later 
than July 1, 2017. State agencies that do not coordinate implementation 
with the revised Medicaid guidelines must implement the WIC income 
eligibility guidelines on or before July 1, 2017.

[[Page 13789]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN15MR17.000


[[Page 13790]]


[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN15MR17.001

    The table of this Notice contains the income limits by household 
size for the 48 contiguous States, the District of Columbia, and all 
United States Territories, including Guam. Separate tables for Alaska 
and Hawaii have been

[[Page 13791]]

included for the convenience of the State agencies because the poverty 
guidelines for Alaska and Hawaii are higher than for the 48 contiguous 
States.

    Authority: 42 U.S.C. 1786.

    Dated: February 27, 2017.
Jessica Shahin,
Acting Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service, USDA.
[FR Doc. 2017-05119 Filed 3-14-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P



                                                     13788

                                                     Notices                                                                                                       Federal Register
                                                                                                                                                                   Vol. 82, No. 49

                                                                                                                                                                   Wednesday, March 15, 2017



                                                     This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER                    Regulatory Flexibility Act                            HHS are referred to as the ‘‘poverty
                                                     contains documents other than rules or                                                                        guidelines.’’
                                                                                                               This action is not a rule as defined by
                                                     proposed rules that are applicable to the                                                                        Section 246.7(d)(1) of the WIC
                                                     public. Notices of hearings and investigations,         the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C.
                                                     committee meetings, agency decisions and                601–612) and thus is exempt from the                  regulations (Title 7, Code of Federal
                                                     rulings, delegations of authority, filing of            provisions of this Act.                               Regulations) specifies that State
                                                     petitions and applications and agency                                                                         agencies may prescribe income
                                                                                                             Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995                       guidelines either equaling the income
                                                     statements of organization and functions are
                                                     examples of documents appearing in this                   This notice does not contain reporting              guidelines established under section 9
                                                     section.                                                or recordkeeping requirements subject                 of the Richard B. Russell National
                                                                                                             to approval by the Office of                          School Lunch Act for reduced-price
                                                                                                             Management and Budget in accordance                   school meals, or identical to State or
                                                     DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE                               with the Paperwork Reduction Act of                   local guidelines for free or reduced-
                                                                                                             1995 (44 U.S.C. 3507).                                price health care. However, in
                                                     Food and Nutrition Service                                                                                    conforming WIC income guidelines to
                                                                                                             Executive Order 12372
                                                                                                                                                                   State or local health care guidelines, the
                                                     Special Supplemental Nutrition                            This program is listed in the Catalog               State cannot establish WIC guidelines
                                                     Program for Women, Infants and                          of Federal Domestic Assistance                        which exceed the guidelines for
                                                     Children (WIC): 2017/2018 Income                        Programs under No. 10.557, and is                     reduced-price school meals, or which
                                                     Eligibility Guidelines                                  subject to the provisions of Executive                are less than 100 percent of the Federal
                                                                                                             Order 12372, which requires                           poverty guidelines. Consistent with the
                                                     AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service                      intergovernmental consultation with                   method used to compute income
                                                     (FNS), Department of Agriculture                        State and local officials (7 CFR part                 eligibility guidelines for reduced-price
                                                     (USDA).                                                 3015, subpart V, 48 FR 29100, June 24,                meals under the National School Lunch
                                                                                                             1983, and 49 FR 22675, May 31, 1984).                 Program, the poverty guidelines were
                                                     ACTION:   Notice.
                                                                                                             Description                                           multiplied by 1.85 and the results
                                                     SUMMARY:  The U.S. Department of                          Section 17(d)(2)(A) of the Child                    rounded upward to the next whole
                                                     Agriculture (‘‘Department’’) announces                  Nutrition Act of 1966, as amended (42                 dollar.
                                                     adjusted income eligibility guidelines to               U.S.C. 1786(d)(2)(A)), requires the                      At this time, the Department is
                                                     be used by State agencies in                            Secretary of Agriculture to establish                 publishing the maximum and minimum
                                                     determining the income eligibility of                   income criteria to be used with                       WIC income eligibility guidelines by
                                                     persons applying to participate in the                  nutritional risk criteria in determining a            household size for the period of July 1,
                                                     Special Supplemental Nutrition                          person’s eligibility for participation in             2017 through June 30, 2018. Consistent
                                                     Program for Women, Infants and                          the WIC Program. The law provides that                with section 17(f)(17) of the Child
                                                     Children (WIC). These income eligibility                persons will be income-eligible for the               Nutrition Act of 1966, as amended (42
                                                     guidelines are to be used in conjunction                WIC Program only if they are members                  U.S.C. 1786(f)(17)), a State agency may
                                                     with the WIC Regulations.                               of families that satisfy the income                   implement the revised WIC income
                                                                                                             standard prescribed for reduced-price                 eligibility guidelines concurrently with
                                                     DATES:   Effective date July 1, 2017.                   school meals under section 9(b) of the                the implementation of income eligibility
                                                     FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                        Richard B. Russell National School                    guidelines under the Medicaid Program
                                                     Kurtria Watson, Chief, Policy Branch,                   Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1758(b)). Under                  established under Title XIX of the Social
                                                     Supplemental Food Programs Division,                    section 9(b), the income limit for                    Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396, et seq.).
                                                     FNS, USDA, 3101 Park Center Drive,                      reduced-price school meals is 185                     State agencies may coordinate
                                                     Alexandria, Virginia 22302, (703) 605–                  percent of the Federal poverty                        implementation with the revised
                                                     4387.                                                   guidelines, as adjusted. Section 9(b) also            Medicaid guidelines, i.e., earlier in the
                                                                                                             requires that these guidelines be revised             year, but in no case may
                                                     SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:                              annually to reflect changes in the                    implementation take place later than
                                                     Executive Order 12866                                   Consumer Price Index. The annual                      July 1, 2017. State agencies that do not
                                                                                                             revision for 2017 was published by the                coordinate implementation with the
                                                       This notice is exempt from review by                  Department of Health and Human                        revised Medicaid guidelines must
                                                     the Office of Management and Budget                     Services (HHS) at 82 FR 8831, January                 implement the WIC income eligibility
                                                     under Executive Order 12866.                            31, 2017. The guidelines published by                 guidelines on or before July 1, 2017.
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES2




                                                VerDate Sep<11>2014   18:19 Mar 14, 2017   Jkt 241001   PO 00000   Frm 00001   Fmt 4703   Sfmt 4703   E:\FR\FM\15MRN1.SGM   15MRN1


asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES2
VerDate Sep<11>2014




                                                                                        INCOME ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES
                                                                                   (Effective from July 1, 2017 to June 30, 2018)
                                Household Size                       Federal Poverty Guidelines- 100%                              Reduced Price Meals - 185%
                                                                                                  Bi-                                                       Bi-
                                                          Annual    Monthly Twice-Monthly      Weekly      Weekly     Annual    Monthly Twice-Monthly     Weekly    Weekly
18:19 Mar 14, 2017




                                                                                48 Contiguous States, D.C., Guam and Territories
                                 1 ....................   $12,060    $1,005            $503         $464       $232   $22,311    $1,860           $930       $859    $430




                                                                                                                                                                             Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 49 / Wednesday, March 15, 2017 / Notices
                                 2 ....................    16,240     1,354             677          625        313    30,044     2,504          1,252      1,156      578
                                 3 ....................    20,420     1,702             851          786        393    37,777     3,149          1,575      1,453      727
Jkt 241001




                                 4 ....................    24,600     2,050           1,025          947        474    45,510     3,793          1,897      1,751      876
                                 5 ....................    28,780     2,399           1,200        1,107        554    53,243     4,437          2,219      2,048    1,024
                                 6 ....................    32,960     2,747           1,374        1,268        634    60,976     5,082          2,541      2,346    1,173
                                 7 ....................    37,140     3,095           1,548        1,429        715    68,709     5,726          2,863      2,643    1,322
PO 00000




                                 8 ....................    41,320     3,444           1,722        1,590        795    76,442     6,371          3,186      2,941    1,471
                                 Each add'l family
                                                                +                                                           +
Frm 00002




                                    member add             $4,180    + $349          + $175       + $161     + $81     $7,733    + $645         + $323     + $298   + $149
                                                                                                      Alaska
Fmt 4703




                                 1 ....................   $15,060    $1,255            $628         $580       $290   $27,861    $2,322         $1,161     $1,072    $536
                                 2 ....................    20,290     1,691             846          781        391    37,537     3,129          1,565      1,444      722
                                 3 ....................    25,520     2,127           1,064          982        491    47,212     3,935          1,968      1,816      908
Sfmt 4725




                                 4 ....................    30,750     2,563           1,282        1,183        592    56,888     4,741          2,371      2,188    1,094
                                 5 ....................    35,980     2,999           1,500        1,384        692    66,563     5,547          2,774      2,561    1,281
                                 6 ....................    41,210     3,435           1,718        1,585        793    76,239     6,354          3,177      2,933    1,467
E:\FR\FM\15MRN1.SGM




                                 7 ....................    46,440     3,870           1,935        1,787        894    85,914     7,160          3,580      3,305    1,653
                                 8 ....................    51,670     4,306           2,153        1,988        994    95,590     7,966          3,983      3,677    1,839
                                 Each add'l family
                                                                +                                                           +
                                    member add             $5,230    + $436          + $218       + $202   + $101      $9,676    + $807         + $404     + $373   + $187
                                                                                                      Hawaii
15MRN1




                                 1 ....................   $13,860    $1,155            $578        $534        $267   $25,641    $2,137         $1,069       $987     $494
                                 2 ....................    18,670     1,556             778          719       360     34,540       2,879        1,440      1,329      665
                                 3 ....................    23,480     1,957             979          904       452     43,438       3,620        1,810      1,671      836
                                 4 ....................    28,290     2,358           1,179        1,089       545     52,337       4,362        2,181      2,013    1,007
                                 5 ....................    33,100     2,759           1,380        1,274       637     61,235       5,103        2,552      2,356    1,178
                                 6 ....................    37,910     3,160           1,580        1,459       730     70,134       5,845        2,923      2,698    1,349
                                 7 ....................    42,720     3,560           1,780        1,644       822     79,032       6,586        3,293      3,040    1,520
                                 8 ....................    47,530     3,961           1,981        1,829       915     87,931       7,328        3,664      3,382    1,691
                                 Each add'l family




                                                                                                                                                                             13789
                                                                +                                                           +
                                    member add             $4,810    + $401          + $201       + $185     + $93     $8,899    + $742         + $371     + $343   + $172


EN15MR17.000</GPH>


asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES2
VerDate Sep<11>2014




                      income limits by household size for the




                                                                                                                                                                                                                    13790
                        The table of this Notice contains the
                                                                                                                       INCOME ELIGIBILITIY GUIDELINES
                                                                                                               Supplemental Chart for Family Sizes Greater Than Eight
                                                                                                                    (Effective from July 1, 2017 to June 30, 2018)
                                                                                                       Federal Poverty Guidelines-100%                                   Reduced Price Meals - 185%
18:19 Mar 14, 2017




                                                                Household Size            Annual     Monthly   Twice-Monthly      Bi-Weekly   Weekly     Annual      Monthly   Twice-Monthly   Bi-Weekly   Weekly
                                                                                                                               48 Contiguous States, D.C., Guam and Territories




                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 49 / Wednesday, March 15, 2017 / Notices
                                                                 9 ....................   $45,500    $3,792       $1,896           $1,750      $875      $84,175     $7,015       $3,508         $3,238    $1,619
                                                                10 ....................   49,680     4,140        2,070             1,911       956      91,908       7,659       3,830           3,535     1,768
Jkt 241001




                                                                11 ....................    53,860    4,489        2,245            2,072       1,036     99,641       8,304       4,152           3,833     1,917
                                                                12 ....................    58,040    4,837        2,419            2,233       1,117     107,374      8,948       4,474          4,130     2,065
                                                                13 ....................   62,220      5,185       2,593            2,394       1,197     115,107      9,593       4,797          4,428     2,214
PO 00000




                                                                14 ....................   66,400      5,534       2,767            2,554       1,277     122,840     10,237       5,119          4,725     2,363
                                                                15 ....................    70,580     5,882       2,941            2,715       1,358     130,573     10,882       5,441          5,023     2,512
                      Columbia, and all United States
                      48 contiguous States, the District of




                                                                16 ....................    74,760    6,230        3,115            2,876       1,438     138,306     11,526       5,763          5,320     2,660
Frm 00003




                                                                Each add'l family
                                                                  member add              + $4,180   + $349       + $175           + $161      + $81     + $7,733    + $645       + $323         + $298    + $149
                                                                                                                                         Alaska
Fmt 4703




                                                                 9 ....................   $56,900    $4,742       $2,371           $2,189     $1,095     $105,265    $8,773       $4,387         $4,049    $2,025
                                                                10 ....................   62,130      5,178       2,589            2,390       1 '195     114,941     9,579       4,790          4,421     2,211
Sfmt 4703




                                                                11 ....................   67,360      5,614       2,807            2,591       1,296      124,616    10,385       5,193          4,793     2,397
                                                                12 ....................    72,590    6,050         3,025           2,792       1,396      134,292    11 '191      5,596          5,166     2,583
                                                                13 ....................    77,820    6,485         3,243           2,994       1,497      143,967    11 ,998      5,999          5,538     2,769
E:\FR\FM\15MRN1.SGM




                                                                14 ....................    83,050    6,921         3,461           3,195       1,598      153,643    12,804       6,402          5,910     2,955
                                                                15 ....................    88,280     7,357        3,679           3,396       1,698      163,318    13,610       6,805          6,282     3,141
                                                                16 ....................    93,510     7,793        3,897           3,597       1,799      172,994    14,417       7,209          6,654     3,327
                                                                Each add'l family
                      tables for Alaska and Hawaii have been
                      Territories, including Guam. Separate




                                                                  member add              + $5,230   + $436       + $218           + $202     + $101     + $9,676    + $807       + $404         + $373    + $187
                                                                                                                                         Hawaii
15MRN1




                                                                 9 ....................   $52,340    $4,362       $2,181           $2,014     $1,007     $96,829     $8,070       $4,035         $3,725    $1,863
                                                                10 ....................    57,150    4,763        2,382            2,199       1 '1 00   105,728      8,811       4,406          4,067     2,034
                                                                11 ....................   61,960      5,164       2,582            2,384       1 '192    114,626      9,553       4,777          4,409     2,205
                                                                12 ....................   66,770      5,565       2,783            2,569       1,285     123,525     10,294       5,147          4,751     2,376
                                                                13 ....................    71,580     5,965       2,983            2,754       1,377     132,423     11,036       5,518          5,094     2,547
                                                                14 ....................    76,390    6,366         3,183           2,939       1,470     141,322     11,777       5,889          5,436     2,718
                                                                15 ....................    81,200    6,767         3,384           3,124       1,562     150,220     12,519       6,260          5,778     2,889
                                                                16 ....................    86,010     7,168        3,584           3,309       1,655     159,119     13,260       6,630          6,120     3,060
                                                                Each add'l family
                                                                  member add              + $4,810   + $401       + $201           + $185      + $93     + $8,899    + $742       + $371         + $343    + $172



EN15MR17.001</GPH>


                                                                                 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 49 / Wednesday, March 15, 2017 / Notices                                              13791

                                                     included for the convenience of the                     (OMB) approval. All comments will be                  states that the purpose in adopting this
                                                     State agencies because the poverty                      a matter of public record.                            standard was ‘‘. . . to smooth the way
                                                     guidelines for Alaska and Hawaii are                    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                      for participation by the needy, not to
                                                     higher than for the 48 contiguous States.               Requests for additional information or                place obstacles in their path by making
                                                        Authority: 42 U.S.C. 1786.                           copies of this request for information                them out to be less needy than they in
                                                                                                             should be directed to Sasha Gersten-                  fact are.’’
                                                       Dated: February 27, 2017.
                                                                                                             Paal via email to Sasha.Gersten-Paal@                    FNS codified these conversion factors
                                                     Jessica Shahin,
                                                                                                             fns.usda.gov.                                         through rulemaking, including a Notice
                                                     Acting Administrator, Food and Nutrition                                                                      of Proposed Rulemaking published on
                                                     Service, USDA.                                          SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: SNAP
                                                                                                             regulations at 7 CFR 273.10(c)(2)(i)                  May 2, 1978, and a Final Rule published
                                                     [FR Doc. 2017–05119 Filed 3–14–17; 8:45 am]                                                                   on October 17, 1978. Between the
                                                                                                             provide State agencies with three
                                                     BILLING CODE 3410–30–P
                                                                                                             options when converting weekly and                    Proposed Rulemaking and the Final
                                                                                                             biweekly income into anticipated                      Rule, FNS received nearly 500
                                                                                                             monthly income: Multiplying by 4.3 for                comments regarding the sections on
                                                     DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE                                                                                     determining anticipated income. In the
                                                                                                             weekly income or by 2.15 for biweekly
                                                     Food and Nutrition Service                              income; using the State agency’s public               preamble to the Final Rule, FNS stated
                                                                                                             assistance (PA) conversion standard; or,              that ‘‘State and local agencies were
                                                     Request for Information: Supplemental                   using a household’s exact amount, if it               frequently concerned with the use of the
                                                     Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)                     can be anticipated. These options have                proposed multipliers for converting
                                                     Income Conversion Factors for                           been available to State agencies since                income received on a weekly (4.3) or
                                                     Anticipated Income                                      the enactment of the Food Stamp Act of                biweekly (2.15) basis. Some
                                                                                                             1977, and the majority of States opt to               recommended using 4.333 and 2.167 to
                                                     AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service                                                                            conform to the [Aid to Families with
                                                                                                             use the first set of conversion factors.
                                                     (FNS), USDA.                                              Generally, when calculating a SNAP                  Dependent Children (AFDC)] factors for
                                                     ACTION: Notice.                                         recipient’s benefit amount, the lower the             weekly and biweekly income
                                                                                                             recipient’s income, the greater their                 conversions.’’ To address this concern,
                                                     SUMMARY:   The Food and Nutrition                                                                             in addition to using the established
                                                                                                             SNAP benefit will be. Some
                                                     Service (FNS) seeks input on the use of                                                                       factors of 4.3 and 2.15, the Final Rule
                                                                                                             stakeholders contend that using the first
                                                     the current Supplemental Nutrition                                                                            permitted State agencies to align their
                                                                                                             set of conversion factors (4.3 for weekly
                                                     Assistance Program (SNAP) income                                                                              conversion factors with other public
                                                                                                             income or 2.15 for biweekly income)
                                                     conversion factors used to anticipate a                                                                       assistance programs, or to use the exact
                                                                                                             underestimates a recipient’s actual
                                                     household’s income for the purposes of                                                                        monthly figure if it could be obtained
                                                                                                             monthly income, which in turn raises
                                                     SNAP eligibility when a household’s                                                                           for the entire certification period.
                                                                                                             the amount of the recipient’s SNAP
                                                     income is received on a weekly or                                                                                In 1981, Congress added Section
                                                                                                             benefit. These stakeholders maintain
                                                     biweekly basis. FNS hopes to obtain                                                                           5(f)(4) to the Act and directed FNS to
                                                                                                             that not only does this result in an
                                                     perspective from State agencies and                                                                           ensure, ‘‘to the extent feasible,’’ that the
                                                                                                             overpayment to the recipient, it also
                                                     other stakeholders as it considers how                                                                        income of households receiving both
                                                                                                             creates inequity between SNAP
                                                     to best balance the flexibilities States are                                                                  Food Stamp benefits and benefits from
                                                                                                             recipients paid on a monthly basis and
                                                     granted in calculating anticipated                                                                            AFDC, the predecessor to Temporary
                                                                                                             those paid on a weekly or biweekly
                                                     monthly income under current SNAP                                                                             Assistance for Needy Families, were
                                                                                                             basis. These stakeholders recommend
                                                     regulations, while adhering to the                                                                            ‘‘calculated on a comparable basis under
                                                                                                             that FNS increase income conversion
                                                     legislative intent of reducing                                                                                the two Acts.’’
                                                                                                             accuracy by amending current SNAP
                                                     administrative burden on State agencies
                                                                                                             regulations to carry the current factors                 With this history in mind, FNS is
                                                     and removing barriers to eligibility for
                                                                                                             out by two decimal places, specifically,              seeking information from State agency
                                                     needy households.
                                                                                                             to 4.33 for weekly income, and 2.17 for               partners and stakeholders on the
                                                     DATES: Written comments must be                         biweekly income.                                      following particular questions:
                                                     received on or before May 15, 2017.                       In 1971, Congress amended the Food                     1. Of the three income conversion
                                                     ADDRESSES: Comments may be sent to                      Stamp Act of 1964 and directed FNS to                 options provided by 7 CFR
                                                     Sasha Gersten-Paal, Chief, Certification                establish standards of eligibility for the            273.10(c)(2)(i), which option does your
                                                     Policy Branch, Program Development                      Food Stamp Program. In implementing                   State agency use?
                                                     Division, Food and Nutrition Service,                   the amendment, FNS began adjusting a                     a. Why does your State agency use
                                                     U.S. Department of Agriculture, 3101                    household’s monthly income to include                 this particular option?
                                                     Park Center Drive, Room 812,                            income anticipated to be received                        b. What are the perceived strengths, if
                                                     Alexandria, VA 22302. Comments will                     during the certification period. For                  any, of this option?
                                                     also be accepted through the Federal                    income received less frequently than a
                                                     eRulemaking Portal. Go to http://                       monthly basis, the factors used to                       c. What are the perceived weaknesses,
                                                     www.regulations.gov and follow the                      average income were 4.3 for weekly                    if any, of this option?
                                                     online instructions for submitting                      income, and 2.15 for biweekly income.                    2. What, if any, administrative
                                                     comments electronically. All written                      In the Food Stamp Act of 1977,                      challenges would your State agency face
                                                                                                                                                                   in adopting a different income
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES2




                                                     comments will be open for public                        Congress expanded the definition of
                                                     inspection at the FNS office located at                 anticipated income in Section 5(f) to                 conversion option?
                                                     3101 Park Center Drive, Alexandria,                     include ‘‘income reasonably anticipated                  3. What, if any, technological
                                                     Virginia, 22302, Room 812, during                       to be received’’ during the certification             challenges would your State agency face
                                                     regular business hours (8:30 a.m. to 5:00               period, and again provided FNS the                    in adopting a different income
                                                     p.m., Monday through Friday). All                       authority to establish standards for                  conversion option?
                                                     responses to this notice will be                        calculating anticipated income. The                      4. Is there another methodology in
                                                     summarized and included in the request                  House Committee of Agriculture’s                      converting weekly and biweekly income
                                                     for Office of Management and Budget                     Report on the Food Stamp Act of 1977                  that FNS should consider?


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Document Created: 2017-03-15 06:04:50
Document Modified: 2017-03-15 06:04:50
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionNotice.
DatesEffective date July 1, 2017.
ContactKurtria Watson, Chief, Policy Branch, Supplemental Food Programs Division, FNS, USDA, 3101 Park Center Drive, Alexandria, Virginia 22302, (703) 605-4387.
FR Citation82 FR 13788 

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