While most people get the “short form” U.S. Census questionnaire, this year approximately 3 million households will get the 67-question “American Community Survey” (ACS) as well as the census form.
Cautious Americans are naturally skeptical about the double-surveying.
“There has been a lot of notice to expect the 10-question survey in the mail, but not so much in terms of the longer and more personal American Community Survey,” said Claire Rosenzweig, president and CEO of the Better Business Bureau (BBB) of Metropolitan New York.
“[I]t may seem invasive, especially when compared to the 10-question form. Responding to the survey is safe, important and required by law,” she said.
The Census Bureau sends out approximately 250,000 ACS per month – meaning about 2.5 percent of the population get the questionnaire each year. It has questions on topics such as income, household expenses, employment, education, and work commutes.
The BBB reminds consumers that the ACS and the 2010 Census will never ask for donations or bank account, Social Security or credit card numbers.
The Census Bureau may contact you by mail or phone, but will not send you unsolicited emails requesting sensitive personal information.
Before responding to a survey that claims to be from the Census Bureau, you can get more information on the Census web site at www.census.gov/survey_participants/.
The thing to remember is that if you get both forms you are required by law to answer both of them. Even though some of the questions may seem invasive of your privacy, your particular information is highly protected, even from other federal agencies.
It is the compiled figures that are needed, as data about the well being of children, families, and the elderly to provide services to them, and help establish goals, identify problems and solutions, and measure the performance of programs, according to the BBB.
For more information or help with the ACS questionnaire, call 800-354-7271 for an English-speaking operator or 877-833-5625 for a Spanish-speaking operator.
