Summary
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice invites the public to comment on this proposed information collection. This collection is a reinstatement with revision of a currently expired information collection. This information collection, the FNS-245, Negative Case Action Review Schedule, is designed to collect quality control (QC) data and serve as the data entry form for negative case action QC reviews in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Revisions to the form, its instructions, and burden hours are within. Upon OMB approval of the reinstatement request, FNS will continue to collect this necessary information.
Request for Comments
Written comments must be received on or before July 31, 2026.
Comments may be sent to: John McCleskey, 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 SM.FN.SNAPQCRules-ICR@usda.gov or may also be accepted through the Federal eRulemaking Portal. Go to Regulations.gov, 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.
Abstract
The FNS-245, Negative Case Action Review Schedule, is designed to collect quality control (QC) data and serve as the data entry form for negative case action QC reviews in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). State agencies complete the FNS-245 for each negative case in their QC sample. The number of responses for reporting and recordkeeping increased from 177,230 to 191,515 responses; a total increase of 14,285 responses due to the increase in number of cases selected for negative review. The reporting and recordkeeping burden associated with the completion of the FNS-245 has increased from approximately 112,491.43 hours to 121,597 hours. The 9,105-hour increase in the total burden is largely a result of an administrative adjustment due to the increase in total SNAP negative action case selections for review from 34,322 cases in fiscal year (FY) 2018 to 38,303 cases in FY 2024 and to a program change to add 0.025 hour for one new code to report household zip code. A summary of the revised reporting and recordkeeping estimates are below, along with a revision of the burden table.
The program is making additional revisions to the form that do not impact burden. These include:
- Clarification that Section I must be submitted to FNS for the QC review process, though the information contained within will not be part of the official federal record of FNS 245 data, which is permanently retained per federal record requirements.
- In Section II, instead of three case classification codes for item 9, there will now be two—included or excluded from the error rate calculation.
- For Section III,
- Existing elements 111, 130, 162, 365 and 413 include terminology updates for accuracy, and elements 313 and 540 are now 314 and 541 to align with the element numbering on the active QC forms, FNS 380-Worksheet for active QC reviews (OMB 0584-0074, currently expired and undergoing renewal) and FNS 380-1, the Review Schedule for Active cases (OMB 0584-0299, expiration 9-30-26).
- Item 10a, Disposition of the review, code 3, is revised to indicate the review cannot be processed since no electronic or paper records exist.
- Item 14d's code 99 is revised to code 00 to correct the numerical association with the code description.
- Items 17 and 18 now have four new possible elements for variance identification: Element 214—Substantial Lottery or Gambling Winnings, 362—Homeless shelter deduction, 540—Missing Required Reports (Monthly, Quarterly or Periodic Report Forms), and Element 542—Expired Certification Period.
All changes may be reviewed on the form provided with this notice.