Attachment NSC-2 - Public Facing Information

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
COVID-19 Pandemic
Overview
The Household Pulse Survey is a 20-minute online survey studying how the COVID-19
pandemic is impacting households across the country from a social and economic perspective.
The survey asks about how jobs, finances, access to food, health, housing, and schooling of you
and those you live with 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
COVID-19 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.

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.

1

Household Pulse Survey Phase 2: Non-Substantive Change Request #1
Attachment NSC-2

How do I complete the survey?
If you have been selected to participate in the Household Pulse Survey, you will receive an

email from COVID.survey@census.gov 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 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 [< 1.0 MB]
Encuesta del Pulso de los Hogares [< 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) and 182 to study the economic impacts of the COVID-19 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
2

Household Pulse Survey Phase 2: Non-Substantive Change Request #1
Attachment NSC-2

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 eightdigit OMB approval number, 0607-1013, confirms this approval and expires on 10/31/2020. 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 adrm.pra@census.gov.

Who is conducting this survey? How will my responses be
used?
The Census Bureau is the designated federal statistical agency conducting this survey. The
questionnaire reflects content provided by the U.S. Census Bureau and multiple federal agencies,
including: USDA Economic Research Service (ERS), Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), National
Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), National Center for Education Statistics (NCES),
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Social Security Administration (SSA),
and Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS).
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.

3

Household Pulse Survey Phase 2: Non-Substantive Change Request #1
Attachment NSC-2

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
You may receive email reminders from the Census Bureau regarding the 2020 Census. These
emails will be sent from 2020census@subscriptions.census.gov. If you have already
responded to the 2020 Census, you may ignore these reminders. Instructions for how to opt-out
of these reminders are included in the email you receive.
Some surveys such as the Household Pulse 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.
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.

4

Household Pulse Survey Phase 2: Non-Substantive Change Request #1
Attachment NSC-2

CENSUS BUREAU EXPERIMENTAL DATA SERIES
https://www.census.gov/data/experimental-data-products.html

What are Experimental Data Products?
JUNE 22, 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.

5

Household Pulse Survey Phase 2: Non-Substantive Change Request #1
Attachment NSC-2

EXPERIMENTAL DATA SERIES: HOUSEHOLD PULSE SURVEY
LANGUAGE REFLECTS UPDATES TO BE MADE WITH LAUNCH OF PHASE 2
CURRENT URL: https://www.census.gov/householdpulsedata

Measuring Household Experiences during
the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic
Household Pulse Survey – Phase 2
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 COVID-19 on American households. The
Household Pulse Survey is designed to deploy quickly and efficiently, collecting data to measure
household experiences during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) 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
Encuesta del Pulso de los Hogares

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. For Phase 2, the survey will carry over many of these questions to allow
users to understand how these domains are changing as the pandemic continues, and will include
6

Household Pulse Survey Phase 2: Non-Substantive Change Request #1
Attachment NSC-2

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.
The questionnaire reflects content provided by the U.S. Census Bureau and multiple federal
agencies, including: USDA Economic Research Service (ERS), Bureau of Labor Statistics
(BLS), National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), National Center for Education Statistics
(NCES), Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Social Security
Administration (SSA), and Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS).
The data collected will enable the Census Bureau to produce statistics at a state level and for the
15 largest Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs).

When will Data be Made Available from the Household Pulse Survey?
Data collection for Phase 2 of the Household Pulse Survey will begin August 19, 2020. The
first data release for Phase 2 will be Wednesday, September 9. Subsequent releases will be made
every two weeks.

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 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.

7

Household Pulse Survey Phase 2: Non-Substantive Change Request #1
Attachment NSC-2

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):

8

Household Pulse Survey Phase 2: Non-Substantive Change Request #1
Attachment NSC-2

9

Household Pulse Survey Phase 2: Non-Substantive Change Request #1
Attachment NSC-2

Data Tables (with selected examples):

10

Household Pulse Survey Phase 2: Non-Substantive Change Request #1
Attachment NSC-2

11

Household Pulse Survey Phase 2: Non-Substantive Change Request #1
Attachment NSC-2

Public Use Files

12