HH Pulse_Revision to Existing Collection_Phase 3.2_Supporting Statement A_Final

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Household Pulse Survey

OMB: 0607-1013

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OMB Information Collection Request

Supporting Statement A

U.S. Department of Commerce

U.S. Census Bureau

Household Pulse Survey

During the Coronavirus Pandemic

OMB Control Number 0607-1013


A. JUSTIFICATION


  1. Explain the circumstances that make the collection of information necessary. Identify any legal or administrative requirements that necessitate the collection. Attach a copy of the appropriate section of each statute and regulation mandating or authorizing the collection of information.


Starting in March, 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic has introduced extraordinary social and economic changes for American households. Since its rapid launch in April, 2020, the Household Pulse Survey has collected near real-time data on the experiences of American households as the coronavirus pandemic prompted business and school closures, and widespread stay-at-home orders. These data are released every two weeks, guiding the response and recovery from the pandemic.


One of the features of the Household Pulse Survey is its ability to rapidly respond to evolving information needs. Nonetheless, the Census Bureau has consulted closely throughout with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to ensure that the survey complies with the Paperwork Reduction Act and that the Census Bureau manage the public burden associated with the collection of data. This Request for a Revision to an Existing Collection is submitted in keeping with the principles of government transparency and the processes for Information Collection Requests (ICRs) approval.


The launch of new content will be considered a new data collection cycle under Phase 3 as approved by OMB (e.g., Phase 3.1, Phase 3.2, etc.). Each data collection cycle will consist of approximately six data collection periods. The Census Bureau will monitor the trajectory of the pandemic and continue its engagement with OMB, other agencies, and stakeholders to determine when additional collection cycles make sense to remain responsive to evolving data needs. It is anticipated that the Household Pulse Survey content will be reviewed quarterly or as the need and relevance of the existing content changes. To facilitate the introduction of new content and a new data collection cycle, the Census Bureau may take a break in data collection. Such breaks will be anticipated and communicated via the Census Bureau’s website. See below for a sample content review schedule. Actual dates would be dependent on the continuation of each data collection cycle of the Household Pulse Survey.




Household Pulse Survey Content Review and Revision Schedule

Data Collection Cycle

Content Review and Revision

Data Collection Start

Data Collection End

Phase 3.1

12/2020 - 3/2021

4/2021

7/2021

Phase 3.2

5/2021 - 6/2021

7/2021

10/2021

Phase 3.3

8/2021 - 9/2021

10/2021

1/2022



If the coronavirus pandemic and/or its effects continue into FY 2022, and it continues to be prudent to administer the Household Pulse Survey, the Census Bureau will submit a request to receive approval to continue the data collection for the Household Pulse Survey beyond one year past the clearance date. The Census Bureau commits to continuous evaluation of the need for the continuation of the survey in response to the coronavirus pandemic in consultation with OMB. Depending on the pandemic and the degree to which the Household Pulse Survey data continue to be useful in response and recovery efforts, the Census Bureau may conclude data collection activities prior to the clearance expiration date.


In circumstances that meet the requirements for Emergency Clearance under 5 CFR 1320.13, Census may request OMB approval to receive public comment concurrent with the collection of new or revised items or methods.



History of Household Pulse ICRs


Initial emergency clearance to conduct the Household Pulse Survey was approved by OMB on April 19, 2020 for a period through July 31, 2020. OMB subsequently approved an extension of the emergency clearance for the balance of the 180 days authorized under 5 CFR Section 1320, Paperwork Reduction Act, specifically 1320.13, Emergency Processing. This extension was granted in light of the continuing pandemic and recognition that the Household Pulse Survey data were widely used and valued by government officials and others managing response and recovery efforts. This extension of emergency clearance expired October 31, 2020.


In the interim, the Census Bureau put forward a regular (non-emergency) Information Collection Request (ICR) for OMB review on September 17, 2020. OMB approved this ICR on October 30, 2020 for three years (OMB No. 0607-1013; expiration October 31, 2023).


For the purposes of referencing prior ICRs, we refer to the ICR approvals to conduct the Household Pulse Survey as follows:


  • Phase 1 – Emergency clearance granted by OMB for the data collection period April – July, 2020

  • Phase 2 – Extended emergency clearance granted for the data collection period August – October, 2020

  • Phase 3 – Normal clearance granted starting October 30, 2020 through October 30, 2023. Subsequent revisions to the questionnaire, are referred to as “Phase 3.1,” Phase 3.2,” etc.


The regular clearance for Phase 3 was initially conditioned upon the Census Bureau taking a temporary hiatus in data collection at the end of December, 2020 to evaluate the continued efficacy of the survey, and to make revisions as needed. However, given information about the trajectory of the pandemic in early December, it seemed imprudent to take the hiatus as planned at the end of that month. Doing so would have meant that Household Pulse Survey would not have collected data in the months of January or February, 2021 when the pandemic was still in an acute stage – and when the data produced by the Household Pulse continued to be useful to the public in understanding how American households would be faring during this period.


The Census Bureau therefore submitted a non-substantive request to OMB on December 22, 2020 to request approval for continuing collection of the current Phase 3 instrument through January and March 2021. Additionally, the Census Bureau proposed adding questions to the Phase 3 instrument immediately regarding individuals’ intention to receive the Covid-19 vaccine, and to release pre-approved questions on the economic stimulus payments given the payments were being issued. Given that time was of the essence for these items, we requested approval to include them effective the data collection cycle starting January 6, 2021. To maintain balance with regard to the estimated burden to the public, we also proposed removing questions from the current survey for which we find utility has declined over time to accommodate the addition of the intent to vaccinate questions.


To continue the survey without hiatus, the Census Bureau submitted a revision request for the Phase 3.1 questionnaire in March 2021. To keep the participant burden low and encourage response, the Bureau reviewed the Household Pulse Survey instrument to identify questions for which relevancy or utility declined and addressed requests for new information emanating from previous public comment and consultation with other Federal agencies. Additional questions addressed the following new topics: disability, child health access, telehealth and childcare.


To ensure that the data collected by the Household Pulse Survey continue to meet information needs as they evolve over the course of the pandemic, the Census Bureau submits this Request for Revision to an Existing Collection for a revised Phase 3.2 questionnaire. As with previous revisions, to ensure public burden is not increased, the revisions would reflect the removal of questions for which utility has declined over time, and the addition of topics based on public comment previously received and in consult with other Federal agencies. Removals include questions on Unemployment Insurance applications; Social Security Administration program receipt and application; Reasons for changed spending; Ride sharing/transit use; trips over 100 miles; Spending on groceries and prepared foods; Delayed and Forgone medical care; Child care; and K-12 computer use and internet access. Additionally, post-secondary education items will be held until closer to the fall term. New questions focus on the Child Tax Credit; sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI); rent/mortgage arrears; utility arrears and restrictions; summer catchup education activities for K-12; preventive health care for children; and application for Medicaid or exchange coverage. The revised questionnaire can be found in Attachment A.


The Census Bureau has published a notice in the Federal Register with 30 days of public comment. Once the public comment period has closed and subject to receiving clearance from OMB for Phase 3.2, the Census Bureau would plan to deploy the revised questionnaire on or about July 21, 2021.

An additional condition of the October 30, 2020 clearance was to complete a non-response bias analysis of the Household Pulse Survey data, to increase understanding with regard to the quality of the data as a new, experimental product. Initial results of this analysis were released on the Census Bureau’s Experimental Data Products site (https://www.census.gov/data/experimental-data-products.html). Ongoing information with regard to the quality of the Household Pulse Survey data is available in the Source & Accuracy Statements associated with each bi-weekly data release (see Attachment B for example).


The proposed revised questionnaire can be reviewed in Attachment A. The statement to respondents related to the Privacy Act and Paper Reduction Act is included in Attachment C. The language we propose to use to contact respondents, including invitations to participate via email and SMS text, is in Attachment D.


The collection is authorized under Title 13 United States Code, Sections 8(b), 182 and 196.



2. Indicate how, by whom, and for what purpose the information is to be used. Except for a new collection, indicate the actual use the agency has made of the information received from the current collection.


Phase 3.2 of the Household Pulse Survey will continue as an experimental endeavor in cooperation with other federal agencies to produce near real-time data to understand how individuals are experiencing business curtailment and closures, stay-at-home orders, school closures, access to health care, and other dimensions of daily living that may have been changed by the pandemic.


Questionnaire content for Phase 3.2 the Household Pulse Survey has been developed in close consult with the following agencies: the Census Bureau (Census); the Office of Management and Budget (OMB); the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service (USDA/ERS); the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS); the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS); the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Maternal and Child Health Bureau (HRSA/MCHB); the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES); the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD); the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS); the Department of Defense (DOD); the National Institute on Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH); the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA); the White House Council of Economic Advisors (CEA) and Domestic Policy Council (DPC); the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB); and the Department of Health and Human Services, Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (HHS/ASPE). Domains include employment status and industry, income loss, consumer spending, application and receipt of benefits, food and housing security, utility use and payment, K-12 education disruptions, , dimensions of physical and mental wellness, access to care, disability, sexual orientation/gender identity, child health access, vaccine intention, and telehealth.


Data collected in the Household Pulse Survey have been in high demand and widely praised as a demonstration of the Federal statistical system’s ability to respond quickly to collect and disseminate high-frequency data products that inform response and recovery efforts in urgent circumstances like the pandemic. Some of the ways in which the data have been put to use include:


Federal, State and Local Agencies


National Center for Health Statistics

https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/covid19/pulse/mental-health.htm


Dept of Housing & Urban Development

https://www.huduser.gov/portal/pdredge/pdr-edge-spotlight-article-092820.html


National Center for Education Statistics

https://nces.ed.gov/blogs/nces/post/new-education-data-from-the-household-pulse-survey


USDA Economic Research Service 

https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/chart-gallery/gallery/chart-detail/?chartId=98778


North Carolina Triangle J Council of Governments  

https://www.tjcog.org/data-resources-2020-census/2020-household-pulse-survey


Academics and NGOs


University of Utah Gardner Policy Institute  

https://gardner.utah.edu/covid-19/household-pulse-data-tool/


Annie E. Casey Foundation 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bl6OD0JwpQw; data incorporated into AEC's KIDS COUNT Data Center


Brookings Institution 

https://www.brookings.edu/blog/education-plus-development/2020/06/22/unequally-disconnected-access-to-online-learning-in-the-us/


Harvard University Joint Center for Housing Studies

https://www.jchs.harvard.edu/blog/using-the-census-bureaus-household-pulse-survey-to-assess-the-economic-impacts-of-covid-19-on-americas-households


Media


https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/social-issues/census-surveys-pandemic-impact/2020/05/27/b7b55854-a027-11ea-9590-1858a893bd59_story.html


https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/yes-unemployment-fell-but-the-recovery-seems-to-be-slowing-down/


https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2020-05-20/one-fifth-of-americans-couldnt-pay-may-rent-or-mortgage-government-survey-finds



All results from the Household Pulse Survey will continue to be disseminated from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Experimental Data Products Series (https://www.census.gov/data/experimental-data-products.html). This and additional information on the Household Pulse Survey available on to the public on census.gov can be found in Attachment E.


3. Describe whether, and to what extent, the collection of information involves the use of automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or forms of information technology, e.g. permitting electronic submission of responses, and the basis for the decision of adopting this means of collection. Also, describe any consideration of using information technology to reduce burden.


The Census Bureau will conduct this information collection online using Qualtrics as the data collection platform. Qualtrics is currently used at the Census Bureau for research and development surveys and provides the necessary agility to deploy the Household Pulse Survey quickly and securely. It operates in the Gov Cloud, is FedRAMP authorized at the moderate level, and has an Authority to Operate from the Census Bureau to collect personally identifiable and Title 13-protected data.


Qualtrics is an online data collection platform that allows survey invitations to be distributed electronically via email and/or SMS. All survey initiations for the Household Pulse Survey will be distributed to sampled participants via email and SMS, and data collection will occur entirely on the web. The data collection platform is optimized for use on a mobile device, so may be used via any type of internet access.



4. Describe efforts to identify duplication. Show specifically why any similar information already available cannot be used or modified for use of the purposes described in Item 2 above.


The Census Bureau and its sponsoring survey partners have initiated efforts to incorporate pandemic response-related questions into the existing benchmark surveys, but those efforts are longer term. Other polls and surveys fielded to track the pandemic and its effect have been well-cataloged by the Societal Experts Action Network (SEAN) at https://covid-19.parc.us.com/client/index.html#/.


The Household Pulse Survey does not duplicate these efforts. First, the sample of the Household Pulse Survey is very large relative to these other efforts, sufficient in size to produce estimates at the state level as well as for 15 Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs). Secondly, the sample frame is the Master Address File (MAF), which is the gold standard frame for U.S. statistics and provides sampled respondents all of the strict confidentiality protections afforded them under Title 13 U.S.C. The statistical infrastructure at the Census Bureau, and within the federal statistical system, enables the use of the MAF coupled with auxiliary and administrative data to allow for extensive procedures to ensure the ability to understand and improve the representativeness of the survey results. Thirdly, the questionnaire has been designed with input from multiple federal agencies, including BLS; USDA/ERS; HUD; CDC and NCHS; HRSA/MCHB; NCES; SSA; BTS; and the Census Bureau. As such, it is a comprehensive, omnibus instrument that efficiently produces data on multiple sectors impacted by the coronavirus pandemic and associated response. Lastly, the data will carry the imprimatur of the federal statistical system and its standards for data stewardship, objectivity and transparency.



5. If the collection of information impacts small businesses or other small entities, de scribe any methods use d to minimize burden.


The collection of this information does not involve small businesses or other small entities.


We designed the survey questions to obtain the required information with minimal respondent burden. Further, there are no legal issues that influence respondent burden.


6. Describe the consequences to Federal program or policy activities if the collection is not conducted or is conducted less frequently, as well as any technical or legal obstacles to reducing burden.


Continuing this collection helps track changes since the early days of the pandemic in the U.S. (April, 2020) and inform recovery from this unprecedented experience for our country. The Household Pulse Survey is designed to address these particular data needs. As the nation is beginning its vaccination program, the Census Bureau commits to continuous evaluation of the need for the continuation of the survey in response to the coronavirus pandemic in consultation with OMB, other agencies, and stakeholders. Depending on the pandemic and the degree to which the Household Pulse Survey data decline in their utility in recovering from this national health event, the Census Bureau may conclude data collection activities prior to the clearance expiration date.


The Census Bureau proposes a data collection cycle that allows publication of results on a biweekly basis. As discussed above, the frequency and timeliness of the Household Pulse Survey is a key component of its ability to meet the needs of policymakers. The Census Bureau will review all existing and new items to ensure that the burden created by this frequency of collection is justified by the value of producing biweekly estimates.


7. Explain any special circumstances that would cause an information collection to be conducted in a manner:


  • requiring respondents to report information to the agency more often than quarterly;


  • requiring respondents to pre pare a written response to a collection of information in fewer than 30 days after receipt of it;


  • requiring respondents to submit more than an original and two copies of any document;


  • requiring respondents to retain records, other than health, medical, government contract, grant-in-aid, or tax re cords for more than three years;


  • in connection with a statistical survey, that is not designed to produce valid and reliable results than can be generalized to the universe of study;


  • requiring the use of a statistical data classification that has not been reviewed and approved by OMB;


  • that includes a pledge of confidentiality that is not supported by authority established in statute or regulation, that is not supported by disclosure and data security policies that are consistent with the pledge, or which unnecessarily impede s sharing of data with other agencies for compatible confidential use; or


  • requiring respondents to submit proprietary trade secrets, or other confidential information unless the agency can demonstrate that it has instituted procedures to protect the information’s confidentiality to the extent permitted by law.


Collection of these data is conducted in a manner consistent with the guidelines in 5 CFR 1320.5. We note two special circumstances related to this collection, specifically:


  1. Due to the design of the Household Pulse Survey and its purpose in providing data on a near-time basis to inform on response and recovery efforts associated with the pandemic, survey respondents are asked to complete the survey within a period of 13 days from their receipt of communication from the Census Bureau requesting their participation. After 13 days, the data collected in that period is processed and released within two weeks. A new sample of households is released every two weeks.


  1. The Census Bureau randomly selects households in numbers sufficient to produce and disseminate statistics at a state level. Generally speaking, the sample is selected in a manner such that no household would be selected to participate in the Household Pulse Survey more than once; however, it is possible that this may occur in states with small populations in order to continue producing data for those states. In those limited cases, it is possible that a given household may be asked to respond to the survey more than once in a calendar quarter.



8. If applicable, provide a copy and identify the date and page number of publication in the Federal Register of the agency’s notice, required by 5 CFR 1320.8(d), soliciting comments on the information collection prior to submission to OMB. Summarize public comments received in response to that notice and describe actions taken by the agency in response to the comments. Specifically address comments received on cost and hour burden. Describe efforts to consult with persons outside the agency to obtain their views on the availability of data, frequency of collection, the clarity of instruction and record keeping, disclosure, or reporting format (if any), and on the data elements to be recorded, disclosed, or reported.


The Census Bureau published Federal Register Notices informing the public of the Household Pulse Survey on May 19, 2020 (85 FR 29922-29923), June 3, 2020 (85 FR 34178-34179), and February 1, 2021 (86 FR 7692-7693). A 30-day notice referencing this Phase 3.2 Revision ICR was published on June 18, 2021 to the Federal Register for publication concurrent to this request. In response to the Notices, the Census Bureau received 31 comments from organizations and private citizens. The comments are available in Attachment F, and summarized as follows:


  • Of the 31 comments, 30 comments offered positive feedback conveying the value of the Household Pulse Survey in terms of its timeliness and the breadth of data made available; one comment offered negative feedback, indicating that the government and its data cannot be trusted.

  • Twenty-six comments explicitly requested that the Household Pulse Survey be continued; one commenter believed it should not be continued.

  • Thirteen comments indicated a desire to include additional content on the questionnaire focused on childcare; one comment indicated a similar desire for content relating to other dependent care demands (e.g., older parents, family member with disabilities)

  • Twelve comments indicated a desire for the survey to collect age ranges for children under 18.

  • Three comments indicated an interest in more information on the impacts the pandemic has had on children.

  • One comment indicated a desire for additional questions on educational reopenings.

  • One comment indicated a desire for the survey to collect information on household relationships.

  • One comment recommended improvements to the health insurance questions currently on the survey.

  • One comment recommended content on work conditions and employees’ sense of feeling safe and protected at the workplace relative to availability of PPE, social distancing and other practices designed to slow contagion.

  • One comment expressed interest in the survey including questions on households’ access and use of P-EBT benefits.

  • One comment expressed concerns that the survey’s online data collection mode could present a participation barrier for respondents, particularly those in the Latino community, given the “digital divide” in the U.S., and encouraged the Census Bureau to consider additional modes of collection.

  • One commenter requested additional data tables that crosstab gender and race, gender and households with and without children, and other gender-based data points.

  • One commenter requested more guidance on how the use the data and its limitations through the posting of additional documentation.

  • We received one comment outside of the public comment period. This commenter requested that we collect data on current income and that we add nativity status, parental status, and age of children to the demographics section.



The Census Bureau appreciates the feedback received and has taken these important comments and recommendations under advisement, particularly the preponderance of requests for questions relating to childcare. Should additional collection cycles within Phase 3 be considered, we will evaluate the content and propose deletions, additions and revisions to the questionnaire in light of evolving data needs expressed in these comments and from other agencies and stakeholders. It is the goal of the Census Bureau and its Federal agency partners contributing to this effort that the survey continues to meet as broad a range of data needs as possible while managing household burden.


With regard to consult with outside agencies, the content and design of the Household Pulse Survey was developed initially to serve the needs of five agencies and the Census Bureau, as well as to serve as a data resource for the public benefit. Representatives of these agencies have been involved in the development of the content of the survey and in the dissemination of findings. Since its inception, interest in the survey has only grown, with additional agencies requesting content to support their data needs in supporting pandemic response. The following list contains analysts, researchers, economists, and organizational leaders who have collaborated with the Census Bureau and contributed content to the Household Pulse Survey:


Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, including the National Center for Health Statistics and the National Institute on Occupational Safety and Health


Brian Moyer

[email protected]


Julie Weeks

[email protected]


Stephen Blumberg

[email protected]


Rebecca (Becky) Bitsko

[email protected]

Kimberly Nguyen

[email protected]


Sarah Luckhaupt

[email protected]


James Singleton

[email protected]


Andrea Steege

[email protected]


Rebecca Guerin

[email protected]


Health Resources and Services Administration / Maternal and Child Health Bureau


Reem Ghandour

[email protected]


Bureau of Labor Statistics

Julie Hatch

[email protected]


Jennifer Edgar

[email protected]


Dori Allard

[email protected]


Harley Frazis

[email protected]


Rob Cage

[email protected]


Thesia Garner

[email protected]


Adam Safir

[email protected]


Jay Stewart

stewart,[email protected]


United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service

Mark Denbaly

[email protected]


Christian Gregory

[email protected]


Alisha Coleman-Jensen

[email protected]


Joanne Guthrie

[email protected]


Brandon Restrepo

[email protected]


Eliana Zeballos

[email protected]



United States Department of Housing and Urban Development


Veronica Helms

[email protected]


Adam Bibler

[email protected]


National Center for Education Statistics


Chris Chapman

[email protected]


Andrew Zukerberg

[email protected]


Gail Mulligan

[email protected]


Bureau of Transportation Statistics


Cha-Chi Fan

[email protected]


Social Security Administration


Katherine Bent

[email protected]


Mark Sarney

[email protected]


Laith Alattar

[email protected]


Richard Chard

[email protected]


Department of Defense


Cathy Flynn

[email protected]


Malikah Dorvil

[email protected]


United States Energy Information Administration


James Berry

[email protected]


Carolyn Hronis

[email protected]


White House Council of Economic Advisors and Domestic Policy Council


Chad Maisel

[email protected]


Department of Health and Human Services/Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation


Benjamin Sommers

[email protected]


Laina Bush

[email protected]


Consumer Financial Protection Bureau


Jason Brown

[email protected]


9. Explain any decision to provide any payment or gift to respondents, other than remuneration of contractors or grantees.


There are no payments or gifts provided to respondents.


10. Describe any assurance of confidentiality provided to respondents and the basis for the assurance in statute, regulation, or agency policy.


The information to be collected is protected under the confidentiality provisions of Title 13 U.S.C. Respondents are informed of the nature and extent of the confidentiality of the information they report in the emails they receive and in the information collection instruments.



11. Provide additional justification for any questions of a sensitive nature, such as sexual behavior and attitudes, religious beliefs, and other matters that are commonly considered private. The justification should include the reasons why the agency considers the questions necessary, the specific uses to be made of the information, the explanation to be given to persons from whom the information is requested, and any steps to be taken to obtain their consent.


The questions in the Household Pulse Survey include age, Hispanic origin, race, sex, and tenure. Additionally substantive items on program use and mental health are included as critical content. A number of these questions could be considered sensitive by some people.


The Census Bureau collects racial and ethnic data in accordance with the 1997 OMB standards on race and ethnicity. Information on race and Hispanic origin is required for many federal programs and is critical in making policy decisions, particularly for civil rights. States use these data to meet legislative redistricting principles. Racial and ethnic statistics are used in planning and evaluating government programs and policies to ensure they fairly serve the needs of each community and to monitor against discrimination in these programs and in society. Race and Hispanic origin data are also used to promote equal employment opportunities and to assess racial and ethnic disparities in health and environmental risks.


The content included on program use and mental health are central to the survey. This COVID-19 pandemic impacts many parts of household life. The impact and resource use are critical aspects of the data provided for assisting government and the public understand and meet the ongoing material and non-material needs.



12. Provide estimates of the hour burden of the collection of information.


The Census Bureau estimates that, for the average household, this survey will take about 20

minutes to complete based on average time in the instrument metrics collected during the period from August through December 2020. This includes the time for reviewing the instructions and answers. We plan to field sample in keeping with our approach in Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 3.1, i.e., we will release new sample every two weeks and allow households a 13-day window to respond. For each two-week collection period, we anticipate receiving 78,000 responses. The total burden is estimated to be 154,440 hours (78,000 x 6 x 0.33 hours).


We calculate the cost of a respondent’s time to complete this survey to be $8.49. The estimated total annual respondent cost burden based on these hours is $6,555,978. For individuals, the wage rate is $25.72 per hour based on hourly earnings for employees as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. 









Type of

Respondent


Expected

Number of Respondents

Average Burden per Response

(in hours)


Total Burden

Hours


Hourly

Wage Rate

Total Respondent

Cost

 

Householder or household member 

(Occupied Units) 

 

 

 

78,000

 

 

 

0.33

 

 

154,400


 

 

$8.49

 

 

 $1,311,196



13. Provide an estimate of the total annual cost burden to respondents or record keepers resulting from the collection of information.


We do not expect respondents to incur any costs other than that of their time to respond.



14. Provide estimates of annualized cost to the Federal government.


The government cost for this continuation of the Household Pulse Survey is approximately $2.6M, paid from Census Bureau appropriations. This assumes data collection for Phase 3.2 would continue for roughly 6 two-week cycles starting July, 2021. Household Pulse Survey costs associated Phase 3, and Phase 3.1 collectively, were $4.1M, which included an initial acquisition of Qualtrics’ services to enable rapid development and deployment of the survey:



Data Collection Platform (Qualtrics) $ 2.1M

Instrument Design and Development $ 74K

Sample Design, Management and Estimation $ 76K

Data Product Development and Review $ 262K

Data Processing and Dissemination $ 82K

Project Management $ 34K



15. Explain the reasons for any program change s or adjustments.

The Household Pulse Survey remains experimental and changes to content, collection methods, design, and dissemination can be expected as the Census Bureau continues to learn and refine its methods. Data are expected to be collected for 13 days, and released on a two-week cycle.


The Census Bureau, its partner agencies or data users may determine at specific points that changes in content, contact strategies or methodology are warranted – to make the data more useful, or to make the survey more efficient and/or less burdensome. In such cases, the Census Bureau will request approval for the change(s) from OMB and deploy approved changes through the launch of a new cycle (Phase 3.2). At this time, we seek approval of the questionnaire revisions set forth in Attachment A, which we believe to address current information needs.




16. For collections of information whose results will be published, outline plans for tabulation and publication.


The Census Bureau plans to release data on a bi-weekly basis. Data and analysis products will be released in collaboration with the participating agencies. Tabular data and access to disclosure protected microdata through www.census.gov are expected.


Data from this survey will be released as experimental. Experimental data products are innovative statistical products created using new data sources or methodologies that benefit data users. Census Bureau experimental data may not meet all of our quality standards. Because of this, we clearly identify experimental data products and include methodology and supporting research with their release. For further discussion of the Household Pulse Survey experimental data products and how the resulting data and corresponding quality will be messaged to the public, including Census Bureau “Guiding Principles: Experimental Statistical Products,” see Attachment G, “Guiding Principles for Experimental Statistical Products.”


The Household Pulse Survey data have short- and longer-term applications. In the shorter term, data tabulations and visualizations will continue to be disseminated on a bi-weekly basis to provide near-time information on the ways in which American households are experiencing the pandemic from a variety of social and economic dimensions. On a longer term basis, the Census Bureau anticipates these data will support a comprehensive suite of research projects looking at these dimensions as they change over time – tracking the trajectory of the pandemic, its eventual wane and the ensuing national recovery. While they were conceived to address urgent information needs, the Household Pulse data will help researchers seeking to understand the effects of the pandemic in retrospective, and guide federal, state and local officials in developing policy that preserve the well-being of Americans in national crisis. Future research efforts may include evaluating the viability of these data for quality linkage to other data sources, which would further enrich understanding experiences during the pandemic as they relate to topics such as household composition, housing condition, income, race and ethnicity, proximity to health care, access to high quality internet and cellular services, transportation, and other dimensions of geographic, infrastructural and demographic characteristics.



17. If seeking approval to not display the expiration date for OMB approval of the information collection, explain the reasons that display would be inappropriate.


The OMB expiration date will be displayed within the data collection instrument.



18. Explain each exception to the certification statement identified in the Certification of Paperwork Reduction Act.


There are no exceptions to the certification.


Attachment A: Phase 3.2 Household Pulse Survey Questionnaire

Attachment B: Sample Source & Accuracy Statement (Data Collection Period May 12 – May 24, 2021)

Attachment C: Privacy Act/Paper Reduction Act Statement

Attachment D: Respondent Contact Language

Attachment E: Public-Facing Information on the Household Pulse Survey on census.gov

Attachment F: Federal Register Notices – Public Comments

Attachment G: Guiding Principles for Experimental Statistical Products



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File Typeapplication/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document
File TitleSUPPORTING STATEMENT
AuthorKenneth Smith
File Modified0000-00-00
File Created2021-06-25

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