US Census - American Community Survey - legit?

[Traveler718]

I got a 48-page booklet in the mail from the US Census. It's not the standard once in 10 years short census form. This one is full of intrusive questions about your income, the value of your house, your utility bills, your mental health (nothing to hide there B"H, but still feels quite intrusive).

It comes with a warning that I'm legally required to fill it out, and subject to a $5k fine if I don't, or if I answer falsely. A little online research shows that it's legit and not a scam, but I'm still not thrilled about providing the government will all this detailed info. I also found an article that said that they may follow up with phone calls and even house visits, but nobody has ever actually been fined for not complying.

Has anyone else here ever received it, and how did you handle it? Or does anyone else know anything about it and whether I should complete it or ignore it?

[AsherO]

I got a 48-page booklet in the mail from the US Census. It's not the standard once in 10 years short census form. This one is full of intrusive questions about your income, the value of your house, your utility bills, your mental health (nothing to hide there B"H, but still feels quite intrusive).

It comes with a warning that I'm legally required to fill it out, and subject to a $5k fine if I don't, or if I answer falsely. A little online research shows that it's legit and not a scam, but I'm still not thrilled about providing the government will all this detailed info. I also found an article that said that they may follow up with phone calls and even house visits, but nobody has ever actually been fined for not complying.

Has anyone else here ever received it, and how did you handle it? Or does anyone else know anything about it and whether I should complete it or ignore it?

If they had an online version and all I gave them was my age range, gender, and census tract (there are 79 people who match that criteria), I might be more inclined to respond.

[WonderingYid]

I got a 48-page booklet in the mail from the US Census. It's not the standard once in 10 years short census form. This one is full of intrusive questions about your income, the value of your house, your utility bills, your mental health (nothing to hide there B"H, but still feels quite intrusive).

It comes with a warning that I'm legally required to fill it out, and subject to a $5k fine if I don't, or if I answer falsely. A little online research shows that it's legit and not a scam, but I'm still not thrilled about providing the government will all this detailed info. I also found an article that said that they may follow up with phone calls and even house visits, but nobody has ever actually been fined for not complying.

Has anyone else here ever received it, and how did you handle it? Or does anyone else know anything about it and whether I should complete it or ignore it?

I wouldn't worry about it...

Was it sent certified mail?

[AsherO]

Was it sent certified mail?

lol no chance

[WonderingYid]

lol no chance

Then why the worry...

[yelped]

I once got one of these. There was a link to complete the survey online, iirc. I actually wanted to do it, but never got around to it.

[zh cohen]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Community_Survey

Approximately one third of those who do not respond to the survey by mail or telephone are randomly selected for in-person interviews.
....
Those who decline to complete the survey may receive visits to their homes from Census Bureau personnel
...
To date, no person has been prosecuted for refusing to answer the ACS.

They need a certain level of response in order to have statistically correct results.
I think that they sometimes offer people money if they need more responses.

[SSLPhD]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Community_Survey
They need a certain level of response in order to have statistically correct results.
I think that they sometimes offer people money if they need more responses.

When I was a kid, my family got one of these.  I remember my father making up answers, like it was a game.  I'd guess 50% or more of the respondents to this do the same.  No way it's statistically accurate.