Part A, Attachment E - Public-Facing Information

Household Pulse Survey Phase 3.1: Revision to Existing Collection

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

Household Pulse Survey Background for Survey Respondents and Other Public-Facing Information

HOUSEHOLD PULSE SURVEY BACKGROUND FOR SURVEY RESPONDENTS https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/household-pulse-survey.html

Household Pulse Survey: Measuring Social and Economic Impacts during the Coronavirus Pandemic

Overview

The Household Pulse Survey is a 20-minute online survey studying how the coronavirus pandemic is impacting households across the country from a social and economic perspective. The survey asks questions about how education, employment, food security, health, housing, social security benefits, household spending, consumer spending associated with stimulus payments, intention to receive a COVID-19 vaccination, and transportation have been affected by the ongoing crisis.

In order to support the nation’s recovery, we need to know the ways this pandemic has affected people’s lives and livelihoods. Data from this survey will show the widespread effects of the coronavirus pandemic on individuals, families, and communities across the country.

Your participation will help federal and state officials direct aid, assistance, and support to the people and places that need it most. This survey provides information that cannot be collected elsewhere. Your response is key. 

We are currently in Phase 3 of the Household Pulse Survey, which began October 28, 2020 and is anticipated to continue through March 1, 2021. Phase 1 of the survey ran from April 23, 2020 through July 21, 2020 and Phase 2 from August 19, 2020 through October 26, 2020.

How was I selected to be in this survey?

The Census Bureau randomly chose your address, not you personally, to participate in this survey. A limited number of addresses from across the country were scientifically selected to represent the entire population.

Your participation is important, and your response cannot be replaced by one from another household address.

How do I complete the survey?

If you have been selected to participate in the Household Pulse Survey, you will receive an email from [email protected] or a text message from 39242* (message and data rates may apply) with a link to complete the survey. If we have not received a response from you, you may receive up to 3 follow-up reminders.

Only those whose addresses have been selected to participate can complete the survey. A limited number of addresses across the country have been invited to answer the Household Pulse Survey. 

All communications from the Census Bureau regarding the Household Pulse Survey, including all emails, texts, and the link to the survey, will originate from a census.gov domain or be sent via text from 39242.

Your participation in both this survey and the 2020 Census is important. Completing the Household Pulse Survey does not replace your response to the 2020 Census.

*Respondents may Reply “Stop” to opt out of receiving text messages.

Household Pulse Survey Questionnaire (In Field Beginning January 6, 2021)[< 1.0 MB]

Encuesta del Pulso de los Hogares (In Field Beginning January 6, 2021)[< 1.0 MB]

How do I know my information is safe? Can I be identified by my responses?

The U.S. Census Bureau is required by law to protect your information. The Census Bureau is not permitted to publicly release your responses in a way that could identify you. We are conducting this voluntary survey under the authority of Title 13, United States Code, Sections 8(b), 182 and 196 to study the economic impacts of the coronavirus pandemic in the United States. Federal law protects your privacy and keeps your answers confidential (Title 13, United States Code, Section 9). Per the Federal Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2015, your data are protected from cybersecurity risks through screening of the systems that transmit your data. 

Your privacy is protected by the Privacy Act (Title 5, U.S. Code, Section 552a).  Routine uses of these data are limited to those identified in the Privacy Act System of Record Notice titled, “SORN COMMERCE/Census-3, Demographic Survey Collection (Census Bureau Sampling Frame).” The Census Bureau can use your responses only to produce statistics, and is not permitted to publicly release your responses in a way that could identify you.

Is this survey authorized by law?

This collection has been approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). This eight-digit OMB approval number, 0607-1013, confirms this approval and expires on 10/31/2023. We are required to display this number to conduct this survey.

We estimate that completing this survey will take 20 minutes on average. Send comments regarding this estimate or any other aspect of this survey, including suggestions for reducing the time it takes to complete this survey to [email protected].

Who is conducting this survey? How will my responses be used?

The Census Bureau is the designated federal statistical agency conducting this survey. The Household Pulse Survey was designed in collaboration with the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS); the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS); the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES); the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD); the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS); the Social Security Administration (SSA); and the USDA Economic Research Service (ERS).

All information that you provide is used only to create accurate, relevant statistics about the nation’s people, places, and economy. These statistics help inform officials and policymakers about communities and individuals across the United States impacted by the pandemic.

HOUSEHOLD PULSE SURVEY – VERIFYING SURVEY LEGITIMACY

https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/surveyhelp/verify-a-survey.html#email2

How to verify an email or text message is from the Census Bureau

Some surveys such as the Household Pulse Survey or 2020 Census User Experience Survey may contact you via text message. The Household Pulse Survey uses the number 39242 (message and data rates may apply*) to send a link to complete the survey online. The 2020 Census User Experience Survey uses the numbers: (833) 972-2561, (833) 969-2724, and (833) 972-2579 (message and data rates may apply*).

Emails from the Census Bureau are sent from the official @census.gov domain.

Any links included in a Census Bureau email will direct you to an official federal government website ending in .gov.

Emails from the Census Bureau will have instructions or information to complete a survey 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.

*Respondents may Reply “Stop” to opt out of receiving text messages.

CENSUS BUREAU EXPERIMENTAL DATA SERIES

https://www.census.gov/data/experimental-data-products.html

What are Experimental Data Products?

SEPTEMBER 30, 2020

Experimental data products are innovative statistical products created using new data sources or methodologies that benefit data users in the absence of other relevant products. We are seeking feedback from data users and stakeholders on the quality and usefulness of these new products.

The development of experimental data is one important path towards the creation of new, regularly occurring statistical products. Experimental data products that meet our quality standards and demonstrate sufficient user demand may enter regular production if resources permit.

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. 

EXPERIMENTAL DATA SERIES: HOUSEHOLD PULSE SURVEY

LANGUAGE REFLECTS UPDATES TO BE MADE WITH LAUNCH OF PHASE 3 EXTENSION

CURRENT URL: https://www.census.gov/householdpulsedata

Measuring Household Experiences during the Coronavirus Pandemic

Household Pulse Survey – Phase 3 

(October 28, 2020 – March 1, 2021)

 

What is the Household Pulse Survey?

The U.S. Census Bureau, in collaboration with multiple federal agencies, is in a unique position to produce data on the social and economic effects of coronavirus on American households. The Household Pulse Survey is designed to deploy quickly and efficiently, collecting data to measure household experiences during the coronavirus pandemic. Data will be disseminated in near real-time to inform federal and state response and recovery planning.

 The Interactive Tool Application is not supported in Internet Explorer 11 and older versions.

INTERACTIVE TOOL DATA TABLES PUBLIC USE FILES

 

 If you have been invited to participate in the survey, you will find more information here.

Household Pulse Survey Questionnaire (In Field Beginning January 6, 2021)[< 1.0 MB]

Encuesta del Pulso de los Hogares (In Field Beginning January 6, 2021)[< 1.0 MB]

What information does the Household Pulse Survey collect?

Phase 1 of the Household Pulse Survey asked individuals about their experiences in terms of employment status, food security, housing, physical and mental health, access to health care, and educational disruption. Phase 1 also included an interactive data tool that has been replaced for Phase 2 and Phase 3, but users can still access all Phase 1 indicators.

Phase 1 Interactive Data Tool Indicators[<1.0 MB]

For Phase 2 and Phase 3, the survey carries over many of these questions to allow users to understand how these domains are changing as the pandemic continues, and will include additional questions on the application and receipt of benefits, spending patterns, and availability of financial resources, post-secondary education disruptions, capacity to telework, and travel practices.

Phase 3 of the Household Pulse Survey has been extended from its original end date of December 21, 2020 to run through March 1, 2021. Beginning with Week 22 (January 6, 2021 – January 18, 2021), there are slight changes to the questionnaire with the addition of questions regarding individuals’ intention to receive a COVID-19 vaccine and the removal of some questions for which utility has declined over time. Questions related to stimulus payments have also resumed. See the Household Pulse Survey Questionnaire (In Field Beginning January 6, 2021) above for current content. We expect further revisions beginning in March.  

The questionnaire reflects content provided by the U.S. Census Bureau and multiple federal agencies, including:

• Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)

• Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS)

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

• Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

• National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)

• National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS)

• Social Security Administration (SSA)

• USDA Economic Research Service (ERS)

The data collected will enable the Census Bureau to produce statistics at the national and state levels and for the 15 largest Metropolitan Statistical Areas (metro areas).

When will Data be Made Available from the Household Pulse Survey?

Data Collection for Phase 3 of the Household Pulse Survey began on October 28, 2020 and ran until December 21, 2020. After a two-week break, Phase 3 resumed on January 6, 2021 and will run through March 1, 2021. The first data release for the Phase 3 extension will be Wednesday, January 27, 2021. Subsequent releases will be made every two weeks through March 10, 2021.

Data collection for Phase 2 of the Household Pulse Survey began on August 19, 2020 and ended October 26, 2020.

Data collection for Phase 1 of the Household Pulse Survey began on April 23, 2020 and ended on July 21, 2020.

How is the Household Pulse Survey Different from Other Surveys Conducted by the Census Bureau?

The Census Bureau and its federal statistical partners are considered the preeminent source of the nation's most important benchmark surveys.  Many of these surveys have been ongoing for more than 80 years and provide valuable insight on social and economic trends. 

The production of these benchmark surveys is by nature a highly deliberative process.  While efforts are underway to introduce COVID-19 questions into some of these surveys, that process can take months, sometimes years, before data are made publicly available.  

The approach for the Household Pulse Survey is different: it is designed to be a short-turnaround instrument that provides valuable data to aid in the pandemic recovery. The Census Bureau is fielding the Household Pulse Survey as a part of the agency’s Experimental Data Series; as such, data products may not meet some of the Census Bureau’s statistical quality standards. Data are subject to suppression based on overall response and disclosure avoidance thresholds.

EXAMPLES OF HOUSEHOLD PULSE SURVEY DATA TOOL AND TABLES

Data Tool: https://www.census.gov/data-tools/demo/hhp/#/

Data Tables: https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/household-pulse-survey/data.html

Public Use File: https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/household-pulse-survey/datasets.html

Data Tool Snapshots (examples):

Data Tables (with selected examples):

Public Use Files

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