Zero Income (I/H)

OMB Control Number: 0584-0524; Expiration Date: 4/30/2013

A

Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 5 minutes per response, including the time for reading text, asking questions and providing consent. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Services, Office of Research and Analysis, Room 1014, Alexandria, VA 22302 ATTN: PRA (____-____).

ttachment E: Recruitment Script - English

Characteristics and Circumstances of Zero Income SNAP Households

Note: The goal of this script is to set up a time and location for an interview with zero income SNAP participants. This is meant only as a guide. Your call/visit should sound conversational.

Hello, my name is ___________ and I am an interviewer from Insight Policy Research. I am trying to reach (name of SNAP participant.) He/she has been selected to participate in a voluntary study about how people are getting along in these difficult economic times. Is (___________) available?

IF NO: Can you tell me how I can reach him/her? (INTERVIEWER SHOULD COLLECT ANY OTHER PHONE NUMBER WHERE THE PARTICIPANT CAN BE REACHED, AND LEAVE A PHONE NUMBER FOR THE PARTICIPANT TO CALL).

ONCE INTERVIEWER HAS REACHED THE PARTICIPANT:

Hello, my name is (__________) and I am calling/visiting you from Insight Policy Research. I’m trying to find out if you would be interested in participating in a research study of people who are getting food stamps, and how they are coping during these difficult economic times. The USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service is sponsoring the study. If you are eligible and interested in participating, I would schedule an in-person interview that would last about an hour, and you would receive a $25 Target gift card at the end of the interview to thank you for your time. Your participation is voluntary and will not affect your benefits in any way. The interview would take place at a place that is convenient to you. May I ask you a few questions to find out if you are eligible?

1. Are you currently receiving food stamps [probe for other names: SNAP or DC/VA/MD name]?

IF YES, CONTINUE. IF NO, INFORM PARTICIPANT HE/SHE IS NOT ELIGIBLE

2. Are you currently earning any regular income?

IF NO, CONTINUE. IF YES, INFORM PARTICIPANT HE/SHE IS NOT ELIGIBLE

3. Some people who are not employed get income from other sources - for example, TANF (use local name), SSI (also known as disability), Veterans’ benefits, and unemployment benefits to name a few. Are you currently getting any regular checks or direct payments like these?

 IF NO, CONTINUE. IF YES, INFORM PARTICIPANT HE/SHE IS NOT ELIGIBLE.

4. Do you have any other source of income that you rely on to get by these days?

 IF NO, CONTINUE.

 IF YES, Could you describe this type of income? USE ‘CHEAT SHEET’ AND IF NECESSARY, INFORM PARTICIPANT HE/SHE IS NOT ELIGIBLE. (The ‘cheat sheet’ will include a list of possible responses to this question, such as “housing vouchers,” “WIC,” and “money from family/friends,” and an indication of which responses are acceptable and which will disqualify the respondent from the study.)

Thank you for answering those questions. Based on what you told me, you are eligible for the study so I’d like to tell you a little more about it. We are interviewing people who are getting food stamps and who have no income in order to find out how they are managing to get by. The information that you and others like you share can help the Food and Nutrition Service better understand the needs of the people who participate in its programs. As I mentioned earlier, the interview would take about an hour and I can meet you at a place that is convenient for you, like a nearby library. Also, you would receive a $25 gift card as our thanks. Can we schedule an interview?

YES. Great. What is the best time in the next week or so for us to meet? I will call you the day prior to the interview to confirm the time and location.

RECORD INFORMATION: For a YES, make sure to record this information:

Name of Participant ____________________

(Best) Phone Number ____________________

Location of Interview ____________________

Time/Date of Interview ____________________

Again, my name is _______________. If you have any questions or if anything comes up in the meantime, feel free to contact me at _______________. Thank you in advance for participating, we are looking forward to speaking with you!

YES, but are you sure this won’t effect my SNAP benefits? Absolutely, neither the State of ___________ nor the Department will know who spoke to us. Everything you say will be in confidence. We won’t use your name at all or any personal information and nothing you say will affect your SNAP benefits, now or in the future. Can we schedule a time to talk? And, we’ll give you a$25 gift card to compensate for your time. Will you be able to help us out and speak with us?

NO. We’d really appreciate your help. We need to hear from people just like you who receive SNAP. We want to hear about your experiences in making ends meet and how you have managed. It’ll take only about an hour of your time and you’ll get a $25 gift card to Target or Wal-Mart. And everything you say will be confidential. Can we schedule a time to talk? [If no]: Thank you very much for your time.