Census form is a lot

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disneysteve

Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
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I got a notification a few weeks ago that I was selected for the census. The form had the link to go online and fill in the form. It reminded you in several places that it was required by law. I ignored it for a bit but got several follow up reminders so I finally logged in and started to do it. It was a lot. Tons of questions and the same questions for every member of the household. I eventually gave up. Yesterday the paper question booklet showed up in the mail. I started working on that today. It's still quite a lot to expect anyone to do but at least it's much faster to do on paper than it is online. It's a 48-page booklet with multiple questions on each page. I made it through the first 21 pages on my first pass. I'll finish it over the next day or two and send it in.

I can't help but wonder what the response rate is on this and how/if they actually enforce the law for folks who don't bother. They really need to either simplify the process or compensate you for the time it takes to do it. Even then, I suspect that the group who takes the time to work through it is probably heavily skewed toward better educated and higher income folks which makes the results relatively worthless. If they don't capture data from a representative sample of the population, what good is it?

Has anyone else gotten it lately? Did you do it?
 
Weird. The national census is every 10 years on the decade, and it's pretty much everyone, not a matter of being "selected". And it's much less invasive - a page or two at most IIRC. I'm also not sure that there are any legal ramifications from not answering the national census.

Which organization is it from? It sounds quite different from the census I know, which makes me suspicious that there is some ulterior motive.
 
There is a long form census survey that is sent to a small, randomly selected group of citizens. I got one about 15 or 20 years ago and it was indeed a chore to fill it all out. Online wasn't an option back then.
But I thought it was just every 10 years like the regular census, so yours is something different. What is the formal title of the form you got?
 
www.census.gov

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Survey Participants

Find answers about Census Bureau surveys, such as how to verify a survey is from us, how we use data to create statistics, and how we serve the public.
www.census.gov www.census.gov

In addition to conducting the decennial census count, the Census Bureau conducts various surveys that study households, businesses, schools, hospitals, and more. These statistics deliver valuable information for local officials and organizations who provide resources and services to your community.
Click to expand...

I was never chosen for the Census long form, but I did get the BLS survey, which is quite invasive too. We also had an in-home meeting by a BLS employee for filling it out, then a bi-monthly check up call for 2 years. Not sure they do that anymore.
 
braumeister said:
There is a long form census survey that is sent to a small, randomly selected group of citizens. I got one about 15 or 20 years ago and it was indeed a chore to fill it all out. Online wasn't an option back then.
But I thought it was just every 10 years like the regular census, so yours is something different. What is the formal title of the form you got?
Click to expand...

Ah. I've never been selected for that.

It looks like OP might be a selectee for a 2024 census that is in preparation for 2030:

www.census.gov

2024 National Census Survey

The 2024 National Census Survey will provide insight into how people engage with the online questionnaire and the invitation materials they receive in the mail.
www.census.gov www.census.gov
 
disneysteve said:
I can't help but wonder what the response rate is on this and how/if they actually enforce the law for folks who don't bother. They really need to either simplify the process or compensate you for the time it takes to do it. Even then, I suspect that the group who takes the time to work through it is probably heavily skewed toward better educated and higher income folks which makes the results relatively worthless. If they don't capture data from a representative sample of the population, what good is it?

Has anyone else gotten it lately? Did you do it?
Click to expand...

They can fine you up to $100 if you don't answer and up to $500 if you lie:

www.law.cornell.edu

13 U.S. Code § 221 - Refusal or neglect to answer questions; false answers

www.law.cornell.edu www.law.cornell.edu

I have no idea if they enforce it. I bet they continue to hassle and remind people though. I might pay $100 just to not fill out a 48 page survey.
 
From what I have read about the regular census they will continue to hassle you and eventually send out a human to knock on your door...

I bet this much smaller sample they would send someone...

Now, if you still refused to do it I would bet nothing bad would happen... but just a guess considering what they allow crooks to get away with...
 
What I received is the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey. On the back in the fine print, it says they estimate that it will take the average household 40 minutes to complete the form and where to send comments regarding the "burden estimate" or other aspects of the process.
 
18 years and I have never had a trick or treater, or a census worker. I did have a sheriff deputy drive up to the gate and ask to use my phone. He didn't have cell or radio service.
 
Texas Proud said:
From what I have read about the regular census they will continue to hassle you and eventually send out a human to knock on your door...
Click to expand...
... or your neighbor's door. I had a census taker come by in 2020 because my next-door neighbor never filled out the form and wasn't home whenever they came by. They asked me the same questions that are on the short form and wanted me to answer based on whatever I knew about her, which wasn't much.
 
cathy63 said:
... or your neighbor's door. I had a census taker come by in 2020 because my next-door neighbor never filled out the form and wasn't home whenever they came by. They asked me the same questions that are on the short form and wanted me to answer based on whatever I knew about her, which wasn't much.
Click to expand...
Same here. I wouldn't have told them the info if I did know though.
 
It wasn't quite as bad as I thought. The last 14 pages were for Person 4 and Person 5 but we are only a 3-person household so I didn't need to fill those out.

I understand why they push for online responses to save money but it was so much faster and easier to do it on paper. Had they sent this in the first place, it would have been done a few weeks ago.
 
Nope, haven't gotten it and would likely ignore it. Haven't received a census form in years.
 
disneysteve said:
It wasn't quite as bad as I thought. The last 14 pages were for Person 4 and Person 5 but we are only a 3-person household so I didn't need to fill those out.

I understand why they push for online responses to save money but it was so much faster and easier to do it on paper. Had they sent this in the first place, it would have been done a few weeks ago.
Click to expand...
You are now a prime candidate for additional house mates even if you don't want them.
 
I have received a census twice, one long form, one short.
The long form was a pain, multiple questions for every household member.
 
I got the long form once and yes, it was a PITA. I remember being tempted to throw in averages for items such as income and don't remember if that's what I did. After doing research on Ancestry.com and seeing the census details (available only 100 years after a census) I realized how valuable the detail was- mostly occupations and income but even birth dates since I found that there were times when information provided by different people on Ancestry were inconsistent. I WILL tell the truth if I get one again.
 
I got asked about one of the rentals periodically for a number of years. Bedrooms, baths, rent, that sort of thing. Haven't heard anything recently.
 
The one time I got the long form was with the census of 2000. I figured that was such a significant date that it would be good to complete it thoroughly, so I did. As I recall, it took a couple of afternoons to go through it all.
Also, as a very amateur genealogist, I've picked up a lot of extremely useful information going through old census results. They can be surprisingly useful.
 
athena53 said:
I got the long form once and yes, it was a PITA. I remember being tempted to throw in averages for items such as income and don't remember if that's what I did. After doing research on Ancestry.com and seeing the census details (available only 100 years after a census) I realized how valuable the detail was- mostly occupations and income but even birth dates since I found that there were times when information provided by different people on Ancestry were inconsistent. I WILL tell the truth if I get one again.
Click to expand...
Census data is available after 70 years, and the LDS Church does great work in transcribing it and getting it on line. I have learned some interesting things (nothing bad) about my own family from the census, and even solved a family "secret" for my late, beloved Mr. A.
 
We got a very long, very invasive questionnaire supposedly from the census bureau a few years ago. In very small print somewhere on the form it said it was voluntary so we ignored it. Door-knocker came to the house just as I was backing out of the driveway so I asked what he wanted & when he told me I told him we had received the form & the form said it was voluntary & he agreed so I told him we were not volunteering to complete it & he left. If your form doesn't say that, if it were me I'd be calling my senator or house rep to complain & confirm if it is actually mandatory or not.
 
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