Attachment B - SIPP-105(L)2018

Attachment B

SIPP-105(L)2018

FROM THE DIRECTOR OF THE U. S. CENSUS BUREAU
Dear Resident:
The U.S. Census Bureau is conducting a vitally important survey, the Survey of Income and
Program Participation, and needs your help to ensure accurate data collection. Within a few days,
a Census Bureau Field Representative will contact your household regarding this survey. I want
you to know that your household’s participation in this survey is extremely valuable and greatly
appreciated.
This survey produces data that helps shape government program decisions affecting millions of
people in the United States. For example, policymakers use the survey’s results to evaluate the
future needs of the Social Security system, changes to and the effectiveness of programs like the
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and the impact of changes to health insurance and
the cost of medical care. In order to provide current and accurate economic information to your
elected representatives and support improving such significant programs that affect people of all
income levels, the Census Bureau needs your help.
Your household’s participation is essential to ensure the completeness and accuracy of this study’s
data. Your address has been specifically chosen to represent thousands of other households just like
yours. Although there are no penalties for failure to answer any question in this voluntary study,
each unanswered question substantially lessens the accuracy of the results.
We are conducting this survey under the authority of Title 13, United States Code, Sections 141
and 182. Federal law protects your privacy and keeps your answers confidential under 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.
Additional information is explained on the back of this letter. Learn more at our Web site:
.
Thank you for your participation. I am grateful for your help.

< Name>
Director

For more information, contact: [FILL RO ADDRESS].

OMB: 0607-XXXX
Why does the Census Bureau collect this information?
Although we conduct a census every ten years, some information needs to be updated more often.
This survey provides current data about a variety of important issues, such as changes people have
experienced in their jobs, health insurance coverage, medical expenditures, the well-being of
children and adults, childcare and child support status, retirement and pension planning,
participation in government programs, and other information. Your voluntary participation is
essential to ensure that this survey’s results are complete and accurate.
How do I know the Census Bureau will protect my information?
The U.S. Census Bureau is required by law to keep your information confidential. The Census
Bureau is not permitted to publicly release your responses in a way that could identify you or your
household. By law, the Census Bureau can only use your responses to produce statistics.
How will the Census Bureau use the information that I provide?
The Census Bureau will combine the information you provide with that of others to produce
statistics. To be efficient, the Census Bureau attempts to obtain information you may have given
to other agencies if you have participated in other government programs. We do so because it
helps to ensure your data are complete, and it reduces the number of questions you are asked on
this survey. These and other uses are permitted under the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. § Section
552a), and as identified in the System of Records Notice COMMERCE/Census-3, Demographic
Survey Collection (Census Bureau Sampling Frame).The same confidentiality laws that protect
your survey answers also protect any additional information we collect. For more information
about how the Census Bureau combines these data with your survey responses, please visit our
website: https://census.gov/about/what/admin-data.html.
How much time will the survey take?
We estimate that it will take about 60 minutes per person to collect the information. This includes
time for reviewing the instructions and completing and reviewing your answers. You may send
comments regarding time estimates or any other aspect of this data collection process, including
suggestions for reducing this burden, to Paperwork Reduction Project 0607-XXXX, U.S. Census
Bureau, 4600 Silver Hill Road, Room 3K138, Washington, DC 20233. You may also e-mail
comments to ; use “Paperwork Project 0607-XXXX” as the subject.
This collection has been approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The eightdigit OMB approval number that appears at the upper right of this form confirms this approval. If
this number were not displayed, we could not conduct this survey.