CPS-CSS 0970-0416_Final_Supporting Statement Part B_052522

2023 Current Population Survey-

Child Support Supplement

OMB Information Collection Request

0970-0416

Supporting Statement Part B –

Statistical Methods

June 2022

Submitted By:

Office of Child Support Enforcement

Administration for Children and Families

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

1. Respondent Universe and Sampling Methods

The 2023 Child Support Supplement will be conducted in April in conjunction with the Current Population Survey (CPS) for which the universe is approximately 128 million households. In April, from the six rotation groups common to the March CPS sample, there will be approximately 3,600 interviewed respondents that represent the sample universe for this supplement. This sample universe is considerably smaller than in previous years. The Census Bureau has developed a new method of using demographic information collected earlier in the CPS to improve data quality that will be used in 2023, which will substantially reduce the sample universe for the CSS. The response rate for the April 2018 CSS was 89.6 percent. The Census Bureau anticipates a similar, or possibly higher, response rate with the new method for selecting the sample universe.

2. Procedures for the Collecting Information

The information collection will be conducted as a supplement to the April 2023 CPS. The CPS, sponsored jointly by the Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, is the country’s primary source of labor force statistics for the civilian noninstitutionalized population. The U.S. Census Bureau conducts the CPS every month. The Department of Health and Human Services sponsors the supplemental questions about child support for April.  

Each sample household receives an advance letter approximately 1 week before the start of the initial CPS interview (see Attachments B and C). The letter includes the information required by the Privacy Act of 1974, explains the voluntary nature of the survey, and states the estimated time required for participating in the survey. Field representatives must ask if the respondent received the letter and, if not, provide a copy and allow the respondent sufficient time to read the contents. Also, field representatives now provide households with the pamphlet, How the Census Bureau Keeps Your Information Strictly Confidential (see Attachments D and E).

The statistical properties of these supplemental items will fall within those associated with the CPS itself. Refer to the Overview of CPS Sample Design and Methodology (Attachment F).

After data collection, the Census Bureau performs data processing procedures to account for missing response, consistency checks, estimation procedures, and disclosure avoidance techniques.  The final microdata file is then delivered to OCSE through appropriate encryption software.

3. Methods to Maximize Response Rates and Deal with Nonresponse

Response rates and data accuracy for the CPS are maintained at high levels, as described, in Section 3 of the Overview of CPS Sample Design and Methodology (Attachment F). Some amount of allocation for item nonresponse is done within the April supplement for eligible persons, i.e., the Census Bureau imputes responses to the supplement.

4. Testing of Procedures or Methods to be Undertaken

The 2023 survey is similar to surveys used in prior years and thus there are currently no methodological or questionnaire tests in progress.

5. Individuals Consulted on Statistical Aspects and Individuals Collecting and/or Analyzing Data

The following individuals may be contacted on the statistical data collection and analysis operations:

Statistical Design Operations

David Hornick

Demographic Statistical Methods Division

U.S. Census Bureau

(301) 763-4183

Statistical Analysis Operations

Lindsay Monte

Social and Economic Household Statistics Division

U.S. Census Bureau

(301) 763-4002

Statistical Collection/Survey Design Operations

Kyra M. Linse

Associate Directorate Demographic Programs

U.S. Census Bureau

(301) 763-9280