SIPP_AttachmentG_Families Brochure_10222021

Why does the SIPP
ask about families?

Why Ask About Fertility?
Researchers and policymakers use fertility
information from the SIPP to study resource
sharing, the eligibility for and use of
programs such as WIC, and differences in
fertility patterns across groups. SIPP is the
only Census Bureau survey to collect full
fertility histories from both women and men.
Over 90% of mothers, but only 77% of
fathers, live with all of their biological
children under the age of 18
4.95%
5.0%

16.9%

6.4%

Live with
NONE of
their children
Live with
SOME of
their children
Live with
ALL of
their children

90.1%

76.7%

Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP)

How the Census Bureau
protects your family’s
information.
The U.S. Census Bureau is required by federal
law to protect the information you provide.
All personally identifiable information about
your household is removed during processing,
so that the information you provide can be
used to inform policies and programs without
compromising your right to privacy.

The SIPP collects detailed information on
families that can help in the development
of tools, programs, and policies focused on
family and child well-being.

Children aged 6-17 living with fewer
siblings play an extracurricular sport in
higher proportions

42.3%

42.3%

76.7

76.7
36.6%
30.5%

Mission and Purpose

21.7%

Data from the Survey of Income and Program
Participation (SIPP) are used to evaluate:

• Changes in income.
• Movement into and out of government
assistance programs.

• Changes in family composition and social

conditions for individuals and households.

• Changes in health, health insurance
Mothers

Fathers

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2014 Survey of Income and
Program Participation Panel, Wave 4.

coverage, and access to health care for
people and families.

For more information, visit the SIPP website at
.

Issued September 2020
Connect with us
@uscensusbureau

No
siblings

1
sibling

2
siblings

3
siblings

4
or more
siblings

Number of siblings
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Survey of Income and Program
Participation, 2014 Panel, Wave 4.

Why collect data on who lives together?
Older adults (65 years and
older) living...

Alone
(31.3%)

With other
relatives
(11.2%)

With spouse
(54.3%)

Researchers and
policymakers use data
on older adults living
alone to develop and
study the effectiveness
of programs such as
Meals on Wheels that
are designed to allow
older adults to continue
living independently.

With
nonrelatives
only
(3.3%)

Adults (18–64 years)
living...

Children (0–17 years)
living...
With
nonrelatives only
(1.2%)

Alone
(14.0%)

With other
relatives or
nonrelatives
only
(25.8%)

With children
and no
spouse
(11.5%)

With spouse
and others
(48.7%)

Note: Percentages may not add to 100 due to rounding.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2014 Survey of Income and Program Participation Panel, Wave 4.

Policymakers use SIPP
data on food stamps/
SNAP benefits use to
evaluate the program.

Researchers and
policymakers use data
on families to evaluate
and design programs
like TANF to help
struggling families
achieve self-sufficiency
by supporting job
preparation, work,
and marriage among
parents.

With one
parent
(26.7%)

With
grandparents or
other relatives
(3.0%)

Families in which
grandparents are raising
grandchildren often
need unique support.

With both
parents
(69.1%)

Researchers and
policymakers use
data on single-parent
households to study
issues of poverty,
housing access, afterschool programs, and
childcare.