Census form is a lot

[Sue J]

In 2019 we were selected for a census thing that was collecting info on crime. We got a letter and then a census person came to interview us. We were contacted every 6 months for, I think 3 or 4 years. After the first two in-person visits it was done by phone, due to Covid, and then it continued by phone. DH and I both had to be interviewed.

The questions were about our household and then if we witnessed or experienced any crimes, specifically break ins, domestic issues, theft, assaults, property damage and some other things. Did we have any contact with the police?

Sometimes there were new questions about a specific 6 month period. It was pretty annoying. But it was not optional so we went along with it and got through it. Part of being citizens, I guess.

 

[rk911]

Unless it's at gunpoint it's always optional. Sounds very invasive.

 

[rembrandt]

Email​

Completing the survey: Emails from the Census Bureau will have instructions or information to complete the survey, such as online, by phone with a Census Bureau representative, or by paper. The Census Bureau will NOT ask you to provide your personal information via email.
The Census Bureau will never ask for your full Social Security number, bank account number, or passwords.
Check the “From” email address: Emails from the Census Bureau are sent from the official @census.gov domain.
Verify the email sender: To verify that someone who has emailed you is a Census Bureau field representative, you can enter their name in the Census Bureau Staff Search database that lists the name and contact information for all Census Bureau employees.
You can also contact the local Census Bureau Regional Office that services your state.

 

[jollystomper]

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...

I was one of those door-to-door Census takers in 2020. With Covid taking away all my recreational activities I found it interesting and met many of my neighbors, with only 1 or 2 cases of someone acting very hostile.

They have asked me to be a door-to-door for these long forms, but I have declined. My recreation comes first . Besides, I will be an election judge in my state a for a couple of days of early voting and on election day, and that will be exciting enough for me .

 

[statsman]

I've seen the request for this Census survey. It is extremely invasive. They can't (or won't) do the decennial census properly, so why is the ACS any better?. I'm not sure I would submit the answers to so many personal questions.

They promise to not release the information to any other agency (IRS, CIA, FBI, LEOs, etc.), but does anyone truly believe that? Also, since several agencies tied to the Federal government have gotten hacked, what's to say this information won't also be hacked?

 

[Koolau]

We were chosen to do IIRC a one-year or multi year form. We were to record every purchase and detail lots of other things. I told the lady who delivered the forms that we were going to move. She said that we would then be removed from the process but that not until we actually moved. SO, we basically didn't do it and then called her when we moved so we never had to do it. It was incredibly invasive and thorough. I wondered what drug addicts or those with other bad habits would have recorded. We were told that we had to do it.

 

[jollystomper]

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.

I've seen the request for this Census survey. It is extremely invasive. They can't (or won't) do the decennial census properly, so why is the ACS any better?. I'm not sure I would submit the answers to so many personal questions. ...

You can get more information about the annual ACS surveys here: About the American Community Survey. Some quotes from the website:

The American Community Survey (ACS) is an ongoing survey that provides vital information on a yearly basis about our nation and its people. Information from the survey generates data that help inform how trillions of dollars in federal funds are distributed each year.

Through the ACS, we know more about jobs and occupations, educational attainment, veterans, whether people own or rent their homes, and other topics. Public officials, planners, and entrepreneurs use this information to assess the past and plan the future. When you respond to the ACS, you are doing your part to help your community plan for hospitals and schools, support school lunch programs, improve emergency services, build bridges, and inform businesses looking to add jobs and expand to new markets, and more.

The Data Profiles summarize the data, providing both estimates and percentages, to cover the most basic data on all ACS topics, including:

Selected Social Characteristics
Disability Status, Educational Attainment, Language Spoken at Home, Veteran Status, and more

Selected Economic Characteristics
Commuting (Journey to Work), Health Insurance Coverage, Income and Earnings, Poverty Status, and more

Selected Housing Characteristics
Computer and Internet Use, House Heating Fuel, Owner/Renter (Tenure), Vehicles Available, and more

Demographic and Housing Estimates
Age and Sex, Group Quarters Population, Hispanic or Latino Origin, Race, and more

Are you curious about why we ask questions related to a specific topic on the American Community Survey (ACS)? Every question has a required purpose and many uses to help communities.

The data results are available to everyone free of charge - the census.gov site provides various ways to access it. Tables on the site, download into your favorite spreadsheet, APIs, etc. When working I used a lot of these data within our demonstrations, to show various technologies in use with real data. They do scrub it to align with non-personally identifiable data rules.

So I would not get too nervous about it . Then again, I am a numbers person, and find much of the data interesting.

 

[TrvlBug]

We were selected to participate in the American Community Survey a number of years ago. Being a good citizen, we decided to participate...a telephone interview the first time IIRC. It was optional. The following year, it was an in-home online interview and she had so much trouble with the connection, it took forever. The third year (once you say yes...), in home, on-line again. When they called the fourth year, we declined and suggested they find someone else in the hood.

 

[EarlyandLate]

I was selected a few years ago for the National Crime Victimization Survey, which is another census bureau thing. It was ostensibly about community crime, but the questions became very intrusive about personal finances and even health. Google said it was voluntary so I decided not to do it. I then got several door knocks from census workers as well as phone calls and texts. In my opinion it rose to the level of harassment. My condo building is a secure building and no one is allowed access unless a guest of a resident or a contracted service provider. That worker who knocked on my door several occasions obviously piggybacked in and was trespassing as per the sign on the front door.

 

[Koolau]

I have no doubt the additional census data is useful to someone. Whether personal data is actually private or sometimes used for nefarious purposes, I don't know but I default to my tag line. YMMV

 

[JoeWras]

Jackpot!

Yesterday we got the US Mail saying we were chosen for the ACS, just like OP.