SIPP 2008 Panel Survey Instruments

SIPP-28105(L)

Dear Resident:

I am writing to ask for your help with an important survey that the U.S. Census Bureau is conducting called the Survey of Income and Program Participation. In a few days, a Census Bureau field representative will contact you. He or she will show you an official identification card and then ask you questions about your job and economic situation.

This survey is used to make decisions about programs that affect millions of people in the United States. For example, policymakers use the survey’s results for many purposes, including designing children’s health insurance programs and evaluating the future needs of the social security system. The Census Bureau needs your help to collect accurate data so that policymakers can plan significant government programs.

The Census Bureau chose your address, not you personally, as part of a randomly selected sample. We need to interview every household in our sample to get a complete picture of the economic situation of people across the country. Your participation in the survey is important; however, you may decline to answer any particular question.

All information the Census Bureau collects for this survey about you and your household is required by law to be kept strictly confidential (Title 13, United States Code, Section 9). Every Census Bureau employee—including the Director, as well as every field representative—has taken an oath and is subject to a prison term, a fine, or both, if he or she discloses any information that identifies you or your household.

Additional information is explained on the back of this letter. Learn more at our Web site: <www.sipp.census.gov/sipp/>.

Thank you for your cooperation. I am grateful for your help.

Sincerely,

Charles Louis Kincannon

Director, U.S. Census Bureau

For more information, contact: [FILL RO ADDRESS].

Why does the Census Bureau collect this information?

Although we conduct a census every ten years, some information needs to be updated more often. This survey provides current data about a variety of important issues, such as changes people have experienced in their jobs, health insurance coverage, and medical expenditures; the well-being of children and adults; childcare and child support status; retirement and pension planning; participation in government programs; and other information. Since the country changes rapidly, up-to-date facts are necessary in order to create effective programs. Policymakers in government and private organizations need current economic information to make informed decisions about programs that will affect people of all income levels. Your voluntary participation is essential to ensure that this survey’s results are complete and accurate.

How do I know the Census Bureau will protect my information?

The law authorizes the Census Bureau to collect information for this survey (Title 13, United States Code (U.S.C.), Section 182). Section 9 of this law requires us to keep all information about you and your household strictly confidential. The Census Bureau will use this information only for statistical purposes. Everyone who has access to your responses is subject to a prison term, a fine up to $250,000, or both, if any information is revealed that identifies you or your household.

How will the Census Bureau use the information that I provide?

Because Title 13 guarantees the confidentiality of your information, the Census Bureau will combine the information you provide with that of others to produce statistics. To be efficient, the Census Bureau attempts to obtain information you may have given to other agencies if you have participated in other government programs. We do so because it helps to ensure your data are complete, and it reduces the number of questions you are asked on this survey. The same confidentiality laws that protect your survey answers also protect any additional information we collect (Title 13, U.S.C., Section 9). If you wish to request that your information not be combined with information from other agencies, we ask that you notify the field representative at the time of the interview.

How much time will the survey take?

We estimate that it will take about 30 minutes per person to collect the information. This includes time for reviewing the instructions and completing and reviewing your answers. After the initial interview, we will conduct a follow-up interview periodically, in order to learn how people’s economic situations change over time. You may send comments regarding time estimates or any other aspect of this data collection process, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to Paperwork Reduction Project 0607-____, U.S. Census Bureau, 4600 Silver Hill Road, Room 3K138, Washington, DC 20233. You may also e-mail comments to <[email protected]>; use “Paperwork Project 0607-____” as the subject.

The U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approved this survey and gave it OMB approval Number 0607-____. Displaying this number shows that the Census Bureau is authorized to conduct this survey. Please use this number in any correspondence concerning this survey.