SUPPORTING STATEMENT A
U.S. Department of Commerce
U.S. Census Bureau
The American Community Survey and the
OMB Control No. 0607-0810
The American Community Survey (ACS) is an ongoing monthly survey that collects detailed housing and socioeconomic data from a sample of about 3.54 million addresses in the United States and about 36,000 addresses in Puerto Rico each year, where it is known as the Puerto Rico Community Survey (PRCS). The ACS also collects detailed socioeconomic data from a sample of about 153,600 residents living in group quarters (GQ) facilities in the United States and Puerto Rico. Resulting tabulations from this data collection are provided on a yearly basis. The ACS allows the U.S. Census Bureau to provide timely and relevant housing and socioeconomic statistics, even for low levels of geography. The Census Bureau requests authorization from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to revise the ACS to continue producing an accurate demographic snapshot of the nation and its people.
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.
The Census Bureau requests authorization from OMB to extend the ACS and PRCS data collection. The Census Bureau developed the ACS to collect and update demographic, social, economic, and housing data every year that are essentially the same as the “long-form” data that the Census Bureau formerly collected once a decade as part of the census. There is a need for current data describing lower geographic areas and subpopulations, such as age groups, race, Hispanic origin, sex, and other characteristics. Federal and state government agencies use such data to evaluate and manage federal programs and are often a critical information source for entities to distribute and determine federal funding for hundreds of assistance programs that include food stamp benefits, transportation dollars, and housing grants. Tribal, state, county, and community governments, nonprofit organizations, businesses, and the general public use information such as housing quality, income distribution, journey-to-work patterns, immigration data, and regional age distributions for decision-making and program evaluation. The ACS is the only source of comparable data about social, economic, housing, and demographic characteristics for small areas and small subpopulations across the nation and in Puerto Rico.
The ACS program provides estimates annually for all states and all medium and large cities, counties, and metropolitan areas. For smaller areas and population groups, it takes five years to accumulate enough data to provide reliable estimates. Every community in the nation continues to receive a detailed, statistical portrait of its social, economic, housing, and demographic characteristics each year through one-year and five-year ACS products.
The Census Bureau is collecting these data under the authority of Title 13, United States Code, Sections 141, 193, 221, and 223. Please see the Title 13 U.S.C. section 141, 193, 221, and 223 excerpt in Attachment T for more information about this legal authority.
The goals of the ACS and PRCS are to:
Provide federal, tribal state, and local governments with an information base for the administration and evaluation of government programs; and
Provide data users with timely demographic, housing, social, and economic data updated every year that can be compared across states, communities, and population groups.
The ACS collects detailed social, economic, housing, and demographic data, which is documented here:
https://www.census.gov/acs/www/about/why-we-ask-each-question/
Information is requested from residents of sampled addresses. For in-person interviews, respondents must be at least 15 years old. Respondents may complete the survey online, by paper questionnaire, telephone interview, or in-person interview. The Census Bureau selects a random sample of addresses to be included in the ACS. Each address has about a 1-in-480 chance of being selected in a month, and no address should be selected more than once every five years.
Using the Census Bureau’s Master Address File (MAF), which is continually updated, a sample of addresses is selected, and survey materials are mailed each month to a new group of potential households. Most households are asked first to complete the survey through the internet, with a paper questionnaire provided to those households that do not respond by internet. Of the remaining households that have not responded either by paper, telephone, or internet, a subsample of remaining households is selected for a personal interview, generally at a rate of one in three. Addresses for which the ACS did not mail survey materials because the address was unmailable are subsampled for a personal interview at a rate of two in three. The ACS also conducts interviews with a sample of residents at selected group quarters (GQ) facilities. The collection of these data from a new sample of housing units (HUs) and GQ facilities every month provides more timely data and lessens respondent burden as compared to being collected via the long-form questionnaire. The following section details the ACS data collection practices.
ACS Household Data Collection
The Census Bureau uses a multiple-mode contact strategy to collect ACS data. These modes include mail, internet, telephone, and personal visits. For households eligible to receive survey materials by mail, the first contact (Attachment A) is a letter that provides instructions on how to complete the survey online, prominently displays the user identification number, and explains that a paper questionnaire will be sent later if the respondent is unable to complete the survey online.
The internet version of the questionnaire is available in English and Spanish and includes questions about the HU and the people living in the HU. The internet questionnaire (Attachment B) has space to collect detailed information for 20 people in the household.
The second mailing is a letter (Attachment C) that reminds respondents to complete the survey online, thanks them if they have already done so, and informs them that a paper questionnaire will be sent at a later date if the Census Bureau does not receive their response. This letter includes clear instructions to log in and prominently displays the user identification number.
The third mailing is a paper questionnaire package (Attachment D) that is sent only to those sample addresses that have not completed the online questionnaire. This package includes a letter that reminds the household of the importance of the ACS and asks them to respond soon either by completing the survey online or by returning a completed paper questionnaire. The back of the letter includes frequently asked questions and provides basic information about the survey in English, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Korean, and provides a phone number to call for assistance in each language. The paper questionnaire has room to collect data on all questions for five people and a few questions for seven more people.
The fourth mailing (Attachment E) is a postcard that reminds respondents to mail back the questionnaire or respond on the internet. It also informs them that an interviewer may contact them if they do not complete the survey and reminds them of the importance of the ACS.
The fifth mailing (Attachment F) is sent to households who have not completed the survey within five weeks. This mailing includes a due date reminding these respondents to complete their survey by a specified deadline to be removed from the list of HUs that will be visited by Census Bureau interviewers and thanks them if they have already done so. This letter includes clear instructions to log in, prominently displays the user identification number, and provides an option to complete the survey over the phone.
If a respondent starts to answer the survey online and provides an e-mail address but does not complete the survey, an e-mail (Attachment G) will be sent to the respondent to remind them to return to the survey to complete their online questionnaire. This e-mail includes a link to the online survey, clear instructions to log in, and prominently displays the user identification number. This e-mail is sent only once to a respondent, either before the third mailing or before the fifth mailing depending on when they started filling out the online survey.
Respondents can call the Telephone Questionnaire Assistance (TQA) line and request Spanish- language materials. An address can receive a letter in Spanish that provides instructions on how to complete the survey online, prominently displays the user identification number, and explains that a paper questionnaire will be sent later if the respondent is unable to complete the survey online. A Spanish paper questionnaire package, as well as a reminder postcard, are sent to sample addresses that have not completed the online questionnaire and requested Spanish-language materials. The Spanish paper questionnaire package contains the same materials as the English package. The address will also receive a reminder letter in Spanish if the Census Bureau does not receive the completed questionnaire by a cut-off date. All the materials that are sent to respondents who request a replacement package in Spanish are included in Attachment H.
A different mail strategy is used for sample housing units in Puerto Rico. The Census Bureau continues to use the previously used mail strategy with no references to an internet response option. All of the materials that are sent to respondents in Puerto Rico, including related reminder postcards, are included in Attachment I.
The first mailing of the PRCS includes a prenotice letter in Spanish and English.
The second Puerto Rico mailing includes an introductory letter, an FAQ brochure, a paper questionnaire, and a return envelope.
The third Puerto Rico mailing is a reminder postcard.
The fourth Puerto Rico mailing is a replacement package similar to the second mailing and is mailed only to nonrespondents.
The fifth Puerto Rico mailing is a reminder postcard that is mailed only to nonrespondents.
Upon request through TQA, respondents are mailed an English version of the PRCS questionnaire and appropriate informational materials.
The ACS provides TQA for respondents who need assistance with completing the paper or internet questionnaires, who have questions about the survey, or who would like to complete the ACS interview over the telephone instead of by other modes. Respondents may call the ACS toll-free TQA numbers listed on the various ACS mail materials, including information and dedicated telephone numbers in the Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, Japanese, and Russian languages.
The TQA staff answers respondent questions and/or completes the entire ACS interview using a computer-assisted telephone interview (CATI) instrument. The questions in the CATI instrument are very similar to those on the internet questionnaire and paper questionnaires with small changes for adaption for a telephone interview and are available in both English and Spanish. The CATI instrument has space to collect detailed information for 20 people in the household.
The Failed Edit Follow Up (FEFU) operation is used to follow up with households with coverage problems (such as mail respondents with more than five people, mail respondents with more people listed on the cover than in the basic demographic section, or questionnaires returned for vacant units). The Census Bureau also uses the FEFU operation to confirm the status of internet responses classified as vacant units or businesses and to collect the minimum amount of information needed to further process the questionnaire. FEFU staff use a CATI instrument to conduct interviews. The CATI instrument has space to collect detailed information for 20 people in the household and is available in both English and Spanish. The FEFU questions can be found in Attachment J.
The final mode of data collection is the nonresponse follow-up operation that uses a computer- assisted interview (CAI) to either conduct personal interviews (CAPI) or telephone interviews for a sample of addresses for which the Census Bureau has not obtained a self-response. Since this is a personal visit operation, we refer to this as a CAPI instrument, regardless of telephone or in-person interview. The questions in the CAPI instrument are very similar to those on the internet and mail questionnaires with small changes for adaption for a telephone or personal visit interview. The CAPI instrument is available in English and Spanish, includes questions about the HU, and collects detailed information for up to 20 people living in a household.
For households eligible to receive survey materials by mail in the 50 states and the District of Columbia (D.C.), a "CAPI Internet Letter” is mailed to encourage respondents to complete the survey online to avoid an in-person interview. It prominently displays the user identification number to access the internet version of the questionnaire and describes how to respond to the survey online. CAPI interviewers, also referred to as field representatives, provide a separate “Internet Letter” to respondents with unmailable addresses. The letters are included in Attachment L.
The CAPI interviewers have several materials available to explain the ACS to households. They may provide an “Introductory Letter” and the HU informational brochure to respondents during the initial personal visit. The “Introductory Letter” explains the importance of the ACS and provides respondents with information on how their data are kept confidential. The HU informational brochure helps respondents understand the value of ACS data, how people use ACS data to help their communities, and how to contact a regional office by telephone for additional questions. The letter and brochure are included in Attachment L.
The CAPI interviewers may also have additional materials mailed to households depending on questions raised by potential respondents. The “Better Understanding” letter emphasizes the confidentiality of the survey data and the benefits of the survey to motivate response. The respondent is told to call the Census Bureau interviewer or go online to respond. The ACS uses the “Confidentiality Letter” when a respondent indicates they have specific concerns about their response being kept confidential or their data being secure. The ACS sends the “Refusal Letter” when a respondent explicitly refuses to participate in the survey. The letter is short and to the point regarding confidentiality and the legal requirements to participate. It provides response options and emphasizes that the respondent will be contacted again soon to complete the interview. A Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) brochure is given to reluctant respondents to provide answers to frequently asked questions regarding the ACS including information about the ACS, how the data are used, and protections for participant information. The letters and brochure are included in Attachment L.
During nonresponse follow-up operations, interviewers have three types of letters available to send to addresses they are unable to contact. The ACS sends a “No One Home” letter to an address when the interviewer is unable to contact anyone at the sample address but thinks someone lives there. It emphasizes the confidentiality of the survey data and the benefits of the survey to motivate response. The respondent is told to call the interviewer or go online to respond. The ACS sends the “Please Call Me” letter to respondents to encourage response. The letter is short and straight to the point, as research with similar letters has shown to be highly successful in gaining response. The ACS uses the “Final Attempt” letter at the end of the data collection period. The letter is short; it expresses the uniqueness of being selected for the survey, the legal requirement for participation, and the different ways to respond. The letters are included in Attachment L.
If interviewers encounter physical access issues, three types of letters are available. The “Management Letter for Multiunit Buildings” helps interviewers gain access to multiunit buildings when they cannot directly access the sampled address. The “Management Letter for Gated Communities” helps interviewers gain access to addresses located in gated communities. A “Seasonal Unit” letter is sent when the interviewer suspects that the sampled address is only used seasonally and cannot contact anyone at the sample address. Interviewers may send this letter to someone who may be able to verify that the unit is seasonal. The letters are included in Attachment L.
Finally, the interviewer may also give a “Thank You” bookmark to respondents who completed the interview in person or may send a “Thank You” letter to respondents who completed the interview by phone. These materials thank the respondent for their participation and let them know they may be contacted for quality assurance purposes. These thank you materials are included in Attachment L.
The introductory letter, HU informational brochure, FAQ brochure, and the “Thank You” bookmarks are translated into other languages (Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, French, Haitian Creole, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, and Vietnamese) to reflect the English versions.
The ACS also collects housing information from HUs identified as vacant. On the paper questionnaire and online questionnaire, the Census Bureau asks a knowledgeable contact to answer the housing questions. For TQA and nonresponse follow-up, we ask vacancy status questions in the ACS CAPI instruments. The questions in the instruments for vacant units are included in Attachment K.
The ACS conducts a reinterview (RI) operation to monitor CAPI interviewer performance. Only respondents who provide an interview through CAPI are eligible for this reinterview. For the housing unit reinterview operation, the Census Bureau uses a separate set of questions for units that were identified as occupied, vacant, or noninterview at the time of the original CAPI interview. Reinterviews are initially conducted through a centralized CATI operation. Reinterview cases are transferred to the regional offices for personal visit interviewing if they cannot be resolved through the telephone attempts. The housing unit ACS Reinterview questions are included in Attachment M.
ACS Group Quarters (GQ) Collection
In addition to selecting a sample of residential addresses, the ACS selects a sample of group quarters. The Census Bureau defines group quarters as places where people live or stay, in a group living arrangement that is owned or managed by an entity or organization providing housing and/or services for the residents. Examples of group quarters include college/university student housing, residential treatment centers, skilled nursing facilities, group homes, military barracks, correctional facilities, workers’ group living quarters and Job Corps centers, and emergency and transitional shelters. An “introductory letter” and FAQ brochure for the facility administrator are mailed to the sample GQ approximately two weeks before the period when an interviewer may begin making contact with the GQ. The interviewer gives the facility contact person a “Thank You” bookmark when they arrive for the interview. The introductory letters, FAQ brochures, and “Thank You” bookmark can be found in Attachment N. The interviewer uses the CAPI Group Quarters Facility Questionnaire (GQFQ) in English or Spanish when making initial telephone contact to schedule an appointment and to conduct a telephone or personal visit with the sample GQ. The GQ has the option to provide a hard copy of the listing information or upload an electronic listing of the residents in the online eListing application to generate the subsample of persons for ACS interviews. The GQFQ questions, eListing screens, and listing sheets can be found in Attachment O.
The ACS uses a subset of the ACS HU questions to conduct interviews with sampled GQ residents, eliminating topics that are not relevant. Resident-level personal interviews with sampled GQ residents are conducted using CAPI, but bilingual paper questionnaires can also be used for self-response. GQ residents in some GQs will have the option to self-respond to the survey online. The GQ CAPI, internet, and paper questionnaires contain questions for one person. The GQ CAPI questionnaire also excludes certain questions for residents of institutional group quarters that are out of scope to reduce burden. The GQ resident data collection packages (Attachment P) include a questionnaire, resident introductory letter, reminder letter, “Thank You bookmark”, and a copy of the ACS GQ brochure. Attachment P also includes the resident's introductory e-mail and reminder. The Census Bureau conducts a separate operation to collect ACS GQ data from sampled GQs in federal prisons and in Remote Alaska.
For Puerto Rico sample GQ residents, the Census Bureau uses PRCS data collection packages (Attachment Q) to collect the GQ data.
The ACS conducts a GQ RI operation to monitor the performance of CAPI interviewers conducting the GQFQ interviews. For the GQ RI operation, the Census Bureau uses a separate set of questions to verify and monitor the interviews at the GQ level (Attachment R). Similar to the housing unit RI operation, GQ RIs are initially conducted through a centralized telephone operation using a CATI instrument. Reinterview cases are transferred to the regional offices for personal visit interviewing if they cannot be resolved by telephone attempts.
Information quality is an integral part of the pre-dissemination review of the information disseminated by the Census Bureau (fully described in the Census Bureau's Information Quality Guidelines). Information quality is also integral to the information collection conducted by the Census Bureau and is incorporated into the clearance process required by the Paperwork Reduction Act.
See https://www.census.gov/about/policies/quality/guidelines.html for more information about the Census Bureau’s Information Quality Guidelines.
Describe whether, and to what extent, the collection of information involves the use of automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses, and the basis for the decision for adopting this means of collection. Also, describe any consideration of using information technology to reduce burden.
The ACS uses web-based technology to collect data for housing unit interviews and certain types of group quarters interviews. Paper questionnaires are still available to respondents who need or prefer to use paper. If a respondent starts to complete the survey online and provides an e-mail address, but does not complete the survey, they will be sent an e-mail reminding them to return to the survey to complete their online questionnaire. This e-mail includes a link to the online survey, clear instructions to log in, and prominently displays the user identification number. This e-mail is sent only once to a respondent.
The ACS uses web-based technology to obtain group quarters residency lists directly from facilities.
Computer-assisted interviewing is used for personal visits and telephone interviews, for both housing unit and group quarters interviews. Computer-assisted instruments allow for the automation of skip patterns and conduct error checks on the spot to minimize costly follow-up interviews or editing.
Describe efforts to identify duplication. Show specifically why any similar information already available cannot be used or modified for use for the purposes described in Question 2.
The ACS is used to collect detailed population and housing data that had traditionally been collected only during the decennial census. The content of the ACS reflects topics that are required by law and that the Census Bureau determines are not duplicative of another agency’s data collection. Several questions in the ACS appear in other demographic surveys but these results are typically not released as frequently as ACS results or at the same level of geography. The comprehensive set of ACS questions, coupled with the tabulation and dissemination of data for small geographic areas, does not duplicate any other single information collection. Moreover, many smaller federal and non-federal studies use a small subset of the same measures to benchmark those results to the ACS, which is often the most authoritative source for local area demographic data.
The OMB Interagency Committee for the ACS, co-chaired by OMB and the Census Bureau, includes more than 25 participating federal agencies and meets periodically to examine and review ACS content. This committee ensures that other agencies are aware of the ACS content and provides an extra safeguard that ACS does not duplicate its collection and content with other surveys.
The collection of ACS data for housing units does not involve small businesses or other small entities.
The collection of ACS data for group quarters could include small entities (such as small group homes). Small group quarters facilities (defined as having fewer than 15 people) are eligible to be in sample only once every five years. The focus of the interview is on a sample of residents, not the business, though a facility administrator is involved in the data collection.
Collecting the data less frequently, on fewer sampled cases, would increase variances on the estimates produced by the ACS especially affecting small geographic areas. The ACS is conducted monthly because collecting data every month provides the most accurate annual average of many survey items that can vary by month or season. A monthly survey also helps the Census Bureau stabilize workloads across the year for in-person interviews. If the collection is not conducted, many federal agencies will not be able to implement programs as intended or meet requirements defined by policy and regulations. Examples of federal uses for the ACS data and associated laws (when applicable), are described in the ACS Handbook of Questions and Current Federal Uses.
https://www.census.gov/library/publications/2014/acs/acs-federal-uses.html
requiring respondents to report information to the agency more often than quarterly;
requiring respondents to prepare 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 records for more than three years;
in connection with a statistical survey, that is not designed to produce valid and reliable results that 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 impedes 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.
The ACS data collection does not require any of the special circumstances mentioned above.
The ACS samples housing units in such a way that no address can be in sample more than once every five years. Data for a sampled address are collected once. If a person moves or has more than one location where they live, they can be in sample more than once.
Respondents are instructed to respond to the survey as soon as possible, which avoids costly follow-up activities such as in-person interviewing. However, once in sample, a respondent has three months to respond to the survey.
Other than the survey itself, respondents are not required to submit any documents.
Respondents are not required to produce or retain records for the survey.
The data collected from the ACS and associated research studies result in statistics that are released or in reports documenting findings. The sample is designed to ensure sufficient geographic coverage so that the ACS can produce an accurate demographic snapshot by surveying a representative sample of the population.
ACS survey results, including statistical estimates categories, are established, and recognized as an official survey time series that has been used as survey benchmarks for other data collection programs for nearly two decades.
ACS survey materials include information related to Title 13 protections of the data collection. The Census Bureau implements disclosure avoidance procedures on all its products and complies with federal regulations related to data security policies.
Respondents are not required to submit proprietary information. All information collected is protected by law.
Consultation with representatives of those from whom information is to be obtained or those who must compile records should occur at least once every 3 years - even if the collection of information activity is the same as in prior periods. There may be circumstances that may preclude consultation in a specific situation. These circumstances should be explained.
The ACS frequently consults with persons outside of the Census Bureau to obtain views on a variety of topics. The ACS consults with data users, other federal agencies, and experts in the fields of survey methodology and statistics for feedback on the data produced from the survey. A similar process is followed for data collection activities, statistical techniques, and disclosure protection.
A Federal Register notice (FRN) posted on November 5, 2024, invited the public to comment on the proposed extension to the 2026 ACS and PRCS. The public provided comments through January 6, 2025. The Census Bureau received 48 comments supporting the ACS, the proposed extension, or recommending enhancements to the ACS. Some specific recommendations include:
Fully integrate the ACS in the Census Bureau’s enterprise transformation initiatives.
The ACS has started transition activities to integrate data collection instruments and systems into the Census Bureau’s new enterprise system. We anticipate data collection in 2027 using the enterprise systems.
Develop new ACS data products and tools to upgrade data users’ access to ACS data and
address more complex public policy challenges.
The ACS continues to explore innovative methods to enhance data tools which include data user access and table development while adhering to policy requirements.
Accelerate research to advance the use of administrative records and alternative data
sources in the ACS to improve data quality and reduce respondent burden.
The Census Bureau will continue ongoing research of auxiliary data use for these purposes. We remain committed to this research and implementation because of our commitment to
producing quality data and we will continue to do so to the best of our abilities within our
Enhance ACS nonresponse follow up operations to achieve higher response rates,
address inequitable data quality and upgrade local community stakeholder engagement
to promote response.
The Census Bureau recently redesigned all ACS respondent materials. The new materials use plain language writing and design principles to make the message clearer, more understandable, and more accessible to all respondents. The materials have increased self-response in all phases of data collection. We have also employed a system using auxiliary data in predictive models to optimize our interviewers' workloads and allow more time for interviewers to obtain survey responses from certain households to maximize cost and data quality.
Increase the annual survey sample size to better serve rural, remote and underserved
areas of the country.
The Census Bureau is committed to providing quality data for all population groups. If the ACS Program received additional resources, the first priority would be to expand and accelerate the research on the use of administrative records, blended data, and modeled data; plan additional testing of innovative data collection methods; and provide more support, training, and supervision for our field staff to help them increase response rates and data quality, rather than focusing on increasing the sample size.
The use of administrative records can help reduce the burden on the American public to provide their data, which may help increase responses and improve data quality. Expanding data collection samples does not solve the root causes of declining response rates and reaching hard to count populations, which would be helped through improved data collection methods and field support.
Revise ACS content to improve data quality.
The Census Bureau, in consultation with the OMB and the Interagency Council on Statistical Policy Subcommittee on the ACS, determines which proposed content moves forward. New content or changes to current content are tested via the ACS content change process. This process includes cognitive testing and field testing.
Increase funding by Congress to the ACS program overall.
The Census Bureau submits annual budget estimates and engages with appropriators throughout the budget process. Ultimately, Congress determines the funding.
The Census Bureau can enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected by engaging with the disability community to explore more accurate and inclusive measures of disability status in the ACS and avoid changes that would result in more restrictive measures that exacerbate the current undercount of the disabled population.
The Census Bureau and the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) have carefully reviewed public feedback. Based on that feedback, we plan to retain the current ACS disability questions. Along with colleagues at OMB, NCHS and other statistical agencies, we will continue our work with stakeholders and the public to better understand federal data needs on disability and assess which, if any, revisions are needed across the federal statistical system to better address those needs. The Census Bureau is committed to engaging stakeholders and communities to better understand challenges with identifying and accessing data for the disability community. We have worked with the Office of Management and Budget, the National Center for Health Statistics, the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, the National Council on Disability, and the Consortium for Constituents with Disabilities and met with federal agency disability stakeholders, disability community representatives, data users, researchers, and disability advocates.
Comments are available to the public here Regulations.gov.
Explain any decision to provide any payment or gift to respondents, other than remuneration of contractors or grantees.
The Census Bureau does not pay ACS respondents or provide respondents with gifts.
The Census Bureau collects data for this survey under Title 13, United States Code, Sections 141, 193, 221, and 223 (Attachment S). All data are confidential under Section 9 of that Title. In accordance with Title 13, each household, GQ administrator, and each person within a GQ participating in the ACS is assured of the confidentiality of their answers. Confidentiality information is sent to sampled housing units in the initial mailing. Respondents using the internet questionnaire are presented with additional assurances of the confidentiality and security of their online responses. At the beginning of follow-up interviews, the interviewer explains the confidentiality of data collected and that participation is required by law. The interviewer may also give the household respondent a copy of a letter explaining the confidentiality of all information provided and a FAQ brochure, as appropriate.
The brochure mailed to sample GQs with the GQ introductory letter contains assurances of confidentiality. A brochure is also provided to sampled GQ residents at the time of the interview. The interviewer also explains the confidentiality of data collected and that participation is required by law. GQ administrators and GQ residents may ask for additional information. The interviewer may provide a Questions and Answers Guide, as appropriate to explain confidentiality regulations and standards.
ACS data collection is covered under the COMMERCE/CENSUS-5 Decennial Census Programs system of records notice (SORN). Records are maintained to perform methodological evaluations and enhancements for data collection and quality control studies and to undertake linkages with survey and administrative data for statistical projects as authorized by law. Additional information can be found here:
https://www.commerce.gov/opog/privacy/SORN
The Associate Directorate for Decennial Census Programs (ADDCP) American Community Survey Office (ACSO) IT system maintains the ACS data stored and processed on Census Bureau servers. This system interacts with other Census Bureau IT systems to collect, process, and store data. The Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) for the American Community Survey can be found here:
https://www.commerce.gov/node/4939
Some of the data the Census Bureau collects on the ACS, such as race, ethnicity, disability, and sources of income and assets, may be considered to be of a sensitive nature. The Census Bureau takes the position that the collection of these types of data is necessary for the analysis of important policy and program issues and has structured the questions to lessen their perceived sensitivity. The Census Bureau has provided guidance to the interviewers on how to ask these types of questions during the interview. The Census Bureau has materials that demonstrate how the data from these questions are used and how those data are kept confidential. Respondents who use the internet to complete the survey have access to links on the survey screens that provide information to help address their questions or concerns with topics they may consider sensitive. The purpose and use of these questions and other ACS questions can be found here at https://www.census.gov/acs/www/about/why-we-ask-each-question/.
Race and ethnicity data are collected and classified in accordance with the OMB Standards for the Classification of Federal Data on Race and Ethnicity (1995).
The sample size is 298,000 households per month, including Puerto Rico. The Census Bureau plans to mail survey materials to approximately 293,500 households each month that are considered to be mailable. The Census Bureau estimates that, for the average household, the paper questionnaire or the internet questionnaire will take approximately 40 minutes to complete, including the time for reviewing the instructions and answers. The Census Bureau plans to conduct reinterviews for approximately 1,907 households each month. The Census Bureau estimates the average time for a reinterview will be 10 minutes.
The Census Bureau plans to conduct personal interviews at 1,675 GQs each month. At each facility, one GQ contact is interviewed to collect data about the GQ and to provide a list of residents in the GQ. This list is used to randomly select the sample of individuals to complete the ACS. The estimated time for each facility contact interview is 15 minutes. The Census Bureau samples approximately 12,800 people in GQs each month. The estimated response time for each person to complete the ACS-1(GQ) is 25 minutes. The Census Bureau also conducts GQ reinterviews for approximately 118 GQ facility contacts each month. The Census Bureau estimates the average time for a GQ reinterview will be 10 minutes.
Please note the number of respondents is 3,576,000 but because of recontacting respondents during our reinterview operation, the number of responses is 3,773,997. The Census Bureau has based these estimates of the average length of time on our previous ACS tests and on experiences with forms of comparable lengths used in previous censuses and tests. The total number of respondent burden hours for a full year is 2,457,075 hours. See Table 4 for the detailed respondent and burden hour estimates.
Estimated Annualized Respondent Burden Hours
Table 4. Annual ACS and PRCS Respondent and Burden Hour Estimates
Data Collection Operation |
Questionnaires or Instrument Used in Data Collection |
Annual Estimated Number of Respondents |
Estimated Minutes Per Respondent by Data Collection Activity |
Annual Estimated Burden Hours |
I. ACS Household Questionnaire, Online Survey, Telephone and Personal Visit |
ACS-1, ACS 1(SP), ACS-1PR, ACS-1PR(SP), Online Survey, Telephone, CAPI |
3,576,000 |
40 |
|
II. ACS GQ Facility Questionnaire CAPI – Telephone and Personal Visit |
CAPI GQFQ |
20,100 |
15 |
5,025 |
III. ACS GQ CAPI Personal Interview or Telephone, and Paper Self-response |
CAPI, ACS-1(GQ), ACS-1(GQ)(PR) |
153,600 |
25 |
64,000 |
IV. ACS Household Reinterview – CATI/CAPI |
ACS HU-RI |
22,875 |
10 |
3,813 |
V. ACS GQ-level Reinterview – CATI/CAPI |
ACS GQ-RI |
1,422 |
10 |
237 |
TOTALS |
|
|
N/A |
2,457,075 |
Table 5. Estimated Annualized Respondent Costs
Type of Respondent |
Number of Respondents |
Number of Responses per Respondent |
Average Burden per Response |
Hourly Wage Rate* |
Total Burden Costs |
Household Respondent |
3,576,000 |
1 |
40 |
$29.76 |
$70,947,840 |
Facility Administrator |
20,100 |
1 |
15 |
$48.37 |
$243,060 |
Facility Resident |
153,600 |
1 |
25 |
$7.25 |
|
Total |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
$71,645,900 |
*The wage rate for household respondents is estimated based on the average hourly rate among all occupations as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics as of May 2021. BLS’s Occupational Outlook Handbook https://www.bls.gov/bls/blswage.htm The wage rate for Facility Administrators is estimated based on an average among the various types of facility administrators (such as medical and health service managers and lodging managers at educational institutions) as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics as of May 2021. The wage rate for Facility Residents (such as college students, group home residents, and nursing home residents) is estimated to be minimum wage.
Provide an estimate for the total annual cost burden to respondents or record keepers resulting from the collection of information. (Do not include the cost of any hour burden already reflected on the burden worksheet).
There are no capital or ongoing maintenance costs associated with this information collection.
The estimated annual cost of the ACS is approximately $235 million. The description sought can be found in the budget request. The Census Bureau will pay the total cost of the ACS.
Explain the reasons for any program changes or adjustments reported in ROCIS.
No program changes or adjustments for 2026.
For collections of information whose results will be published, outline plans for tabulation and publication. Address any complex analytical techniques that will be used. Provide the time schedule for the entire project, including beginning and ending dates of the collection of information, completion of report, publication dates, and other actions.
The 2026 ACS data collection activities will begin in late December 2025.
Approximately two months after the initial mailing for a sample month, ACS will begin the CAPI operation for a sample of households that have not responded by mail or internet.
Each month, the ACS conducts interviews with sample GQ administrators and a sample of residents. The data collection for each GQ sample month is six weeks. The GQ reinterview takes place approximately one month after the beginning of the survey year and continues until the end of December each year. The ACS GQ does not include a formal nonresponse follow-up operation, but CAPI interviewers contact a respondent or GQ administrator for missing responses on the questionnaire at any point during the six-week data collection period.
The Census Bureau publishes approximately 2,500 tables each year using data collected over a 1-year and 5-year period. For the 1-year publication, tables are produced for areas of 65,000 or greater beginning in September the year following data collection. For the 1-year Supplemental publication, tables are produced for areas of 20,000 or more. For the 5-year publication, tables are published down to the census tract and block group levels. The Census Bureau also provides custom tabulations of the ACS data on a cost-reimbursable basis. In addition, the ACS releases yearly Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) microdata files consisting of a subsample of responses received in that year.
This information available through the Census Bureau’s main data dissemination site, data.census.gov, is generally published each fall for the previous 1-year and 5-year periods, using data collected over that previous year and 5-year period.
The Census Bureau protects the confidentiality of the data by using approved data protection techniques. The data tables and microdata are reviewed and approved by the Census Bureau’s Disclosure Review Board to ensure they meet the Census Bureau’s confidentiality standards.
If seeking approval to not display the expiration date for OMB approval of the information collection, explain the reasons that display would be appropriate.
The Census Bureau is seeking approval to not display the OMB expiration date on the paper questionnaires associated with this information collection. The ACS is an ongoing and continuous survey that is mandatory. If there is an expiration date on the questionnaire, respondents may infer that the survey is over as of the expiration date, which is not the case.
Explain each exception to the certification statement identified in “Certification for Paperwork Reduction Act Submissions.”
The Census Bureau certifies compliance with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
Appendix A
2026 ACS Data Collection Materials
American Community Survey Household (HU) First Mailing:
ACS-13PS(2025) (02-14-2025), ACS Introductory Letter
American Community Survey Internet Screen Capture Guide
ACS-400C (January 2024), ACS Internet Data Collection Instrument Screen Capture Guide
American Community Survey Household (HU) Second Mailing:
ACS-20PS(2025) (02-12-2025), ACS Reminder Letter
American Community Survey HU Third Mailing:
ACS-1(2025) (2-28-2024), ACS Stateside Questionnaire
ACS-14(L)(2025) (02-13-2025), ACS Follow-up Letter
ACS-46(2024) (03-22-2023), ACS Stateside Outgoing Envelope
BRE 6385-47(2024) (05-05-2023), ACS Business Reply Envelope
E American Community Survey HU Fourth Mailing:
ACS-29(2024) (04-27-2023), Postcard for Second Reminder
American Community Survey HU Fifth Mailing:
ACS- 23PS(2025) (02-13-2025), ACS Due Date Letter
American Community Survey E-mail Reminder
American Community Survey HU Spanish Mailing Package:
ACS-1(SP)(2025) (2-29-2024), ACS Stateside Questionnaire in Spanish
ACS-13PS(SP)(2025) (02-14-2025), ACS Introductory Letter Spanish
ACS-14(L)(SP)(2025) (02-13-2025), ACS Follow-up Letter in Spanish
ACS-23PS(SP)(2025) (02-13-2025), Additional Mailing Postcard (English/Spanish)
ACS-29(SP)(2024) (04-26-2023), Postcard for Second Reminder, Stateside Spanish
ACS-46(2024) (03-22-2023), ACS Stateside Spanish Outgoing Envelope
BRE 6385-47(2024) (05-05-2023), ACS Business Reply Envelope
Puerto Rico Community Survey HU Mailing Materials:
ACS-1PR(2025) (02-28-2024), PRCS Questionnaire in English
ACS-1PR(SP)(2025) (02-29-2024), PRCS Spanish Questionnaire in Spanish
ACS-10SMPR(2021) (01-04-2021), PRCS FAQ Brochure in English/Spanish
ACS-12(L)PR(2025) (02-12-2025), PRCS Pre-notice Letter
ACS-13(L)PR(2025) (02-12-2025), PRCS Introductory Letter in English/Spanish
ACS-14(L)PR(2025) (02-11-2025), PRCS Follow up Letter in English/Spanish
ACS-20PR(2025) (02-26-2025), PRCS Reminder/Thank You Postcard in English/Spanish
ACS-23PR(2025) (02-14-2025), PRCS Reminder Postcard in English/Spanish
ACS-40PR(2020) (08-02-2019), PRCS Pre-notice Envelope
ACS-46PR(2024) (03-22-2023), PRCS Outgoing Envelope
BRE 6385-47(2024) (05-05-2023), ACS Business Reply Envelope
American Community Survey Failed Edit Follow up Questions
American Community Survey Vacant Unit Questions
American Community Survey CAPI Materials
ACS-16(L)(2-14-24) Introductory Letter in Multiple Languages
ACS-16(L)(7-1-2022) Introductory Letter in English
ACS-16(L)(SP)(7-1-2022) Introductory Letter in Spanish
ACS-16(L)(PR)(7-1-2022) Introductory Letter for PRCS
ACS-26(B)(7-2022) Thank You Bookmark in English
ACS-26(B)(7-2022) Thank You Bookmark in Multiple Languages
ACS-26(B)(PR)(7-2022) Thank You Bookmark for PRCS
ACS-26(B)(SP)(7-2022) Thank You Bookmark in Spanish
ACS-50(HU)(10-2022) Informational Brochure in English
ACS-50(HU)(01-2024) Informational Brochure in Multiple Languages
ACS-50(HU)(PRCS)(10-2022) Bilingual Informational Brochure for Puerto Rico
ACS-50(HU)(RA)(10-2022) Informational Brochure for Remote Alaska
ACS-50(HU)(SP)(10-2022) Informational Brochure in Spanish
ACS-50(HU)(TL)(10-2022) Informational Brochure for Tribal Lands
ACS-51(HU)(01-2023) FAQ Brochure in English
ACS-51 (HU) (01-2024) FAQ Brochure in Multiple Languages
ACS-51(HU)(SP)(1-2023) FAQ Brochure in Spanish
ACS-BUL Better Understanding Letter Multiple Languages
ACS-BUL ENG Better Understanding Letter in English
ACS-BUL PRCS Bilingual Better Understanding Letter for Puerto Rico
ACS-BUL SP Better Understanding Letter in Spanish
ACS-CON ENG Confidentiality Letter in English
ACS-FAL ENG Final Attempt Letter in English
ACS-INET ROXX (2024) (7-15-2024) CAPI Internet Letter (PSM Mailed from NPC)
ACS-INT ENG Internet Letter in English (ROSCO version)
ACS-INT SP Internet Letter in Spanish (ROSCO version)
ACS-MU-1(L) ENG Management Letter for Multiunit Buildings in English
ACS-MU-1(L) PRCS Bilingual Management Letter for Multiunit Buildings for PRCS
ACS-MU-2(L) ENG Management Gated Community Letter in English
ACS-MU-2(L) PRCS Management Gated Community Letter for PRCS
ACS-NOH ENG No One Home Letter in English
ACS-NOH No One Home Letter in Multiple Languages
ACS-NOH PRCS Bilingual No One Home Letter for Puerto Rico
ACS-NOH SP No One Home Letter in Spanish
ACS-PCM ENG Please Call Me Letter in English
ACS-PCM PRCS Bilingual Please Call Me Letter for PRCS
ACS-PCM SP Please Call Me Letter in Spanish
ACS-REF ENG Refusal Letter in English
ACS-REF PRCS Bilingual Refusal Letter for PRCS
ACS-REF Refusal Letter in Multiple Languages
ACS-REF SP Refusal Letter in Spanish
ACS-SEA ENG Seasonal Unit Letter in English
ACS-TYL ENG Thank You Letter in English
ACS-TYL SP Thank You Letter in Spanish
American Community Survey Housing Unit Content Reinterview (CRI) Questions
American Community Survey Group Quarters Facilities Data Collection Package
ACS-18(L)(C)(GQ)(2025) ACS GQ Student Housing Introductory Letter
ACS-18(L)(GQ)(2025) ACS GQ Facility Manager Introductory Letter
ACS-18(L)(GQ)(PR)(2025) PRCS GQ Introductory Letter (English)
ACS-18(L)(GQ)(PR)(S)(2025) PRCS GQ Introductory Letter (Spanish)
ACS-18(L)(H)(GQ)(2025) ACS GQ Health Care Introductory Letter
ACS-26(B)(GQ), ACS GQ Thank You Bookmark (English/Spanish)
ACS-26(B)(GQ)(PR), PRCS Thank You Bookmark (English/Spanish)
ACS-51(GQ)(F) ACS GQ Facility FAQ Brochure
American Community Survey Group Quarters Facility Questionnaire and Listing Sheets
ACS-290(GQ) (8-1-2022) ACS GQ Listing Sheet
ACS-290(GQ)(PR)(SP)(9-22-2022) PRCS GQ Listing Sheet
ACS-290B(GQ) (8-1-2022) ACS GQ Control List
ACS-290B(GQ)(PR)(SP)(9-22-2022) PRCS GQ Control List (Spanish)
eListing Screens
GQFQ Facilities Questionnaire
American Community Survey Group Quarters Resident Data Collection Package
ACS-1(GQ)(2025), ACS GQ Questionnaire (English/Spanish)
ACS-17(L)(GQ)(2025), ACS Resident Introductory Letter (English/Spanish)
ACS-17R(L)(GQ), ACS Resident Reminder Letter (English)
ACS-26(B)(GQ), ACS GQ Thank You Bookmark (English/Spanish)
ACS-50(GQ) ACS Brochure (English/Spanish)
ACS-50(GQ)(RA) Remote Alaska FAQ Brochure
Resident ACS GQ e-mail intro with ID (Spanish)
Resident ACS GQ e-mail intro with ID
Resident ACS GQ e-mail reminder with ID (Spanish)
Resident ACS GQ e-mail reminder with ID
BRE 6385-46(GQ)(2025) ACS GQ Business Reply Mail Envelope
Puerto Rico Community Survey – Group Quarters Resident Questionnaire Package:
ACS-1(GQ)(PR)(2025), PRCS GQ Questionnaire (English/Spanish)
ACS-17(L)(GQ)(PR)(2025), PRCS Resident Introductory Letter (English/Spanish)
ACS-26(B)(GQ)(PR) PRCS Thank You Bookmark (English/Spanish)
ACS-50(GQ)(PR) PRCS FAQ Brochure (English/Spanish)
American Community Survey Group Quarters Reinterview Questions
USCODE-2007-Title13
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| File Type | application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document |
| File Title | ACSExtension_SupportingStatementA |
| Subject | 2020 |
| File Modified | 0000-00-00 |
| File Created | 2025-05-19 |