Attachment K Report Split Panel Test

Attachment K
Draft Report “Analysis of the September 2020 Current Population
Survey Split Panel Test”

Sept 2020 CPS-FSS Split Panel, page 1

Analysis of the September 2020 Current Population Survey Split Panel Test

Alisha Coleman-Jensen (alisha.coleman-jensen@usda.gov) and
Matthew P. Rabbitt (matthew.rabbitt@usda.gov)

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service
Food Economics Division, Food Assistance Branch

Draft Report November 22, 2021

Note: This draft report is intended to inform decision making for the proposed content of the
2022 Current Population Survey Food Security Supplement questionnaire. This report has not
undergone the full review and editorial process of official ERS publications.

Sept 2020 CPS-FSS Split Panel, page 2

Introduction
USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) has sponsored annual data collection of the
Food Security Supplement since 1995. The Food Security Supplement is added to the monthly
Current Population Survey each December to form the Current Population Survey Food Security
Supplement (CPS-FSS). 1 The CPS-FSS is used for annual monitoring of household food security
in the United States (Coleman-Jensen et al., 2021). Food insecurity has become a key indicator
of well-being for the U.S. population (see, for example, Healthy People 2030,
https://health.gov/healthypeople/objectives-and-data/browse-objectives/nutrition-and-healthyeating/reduce-household-food-insecurity-and-hunger-nws-01, and America’s Children: Key
National Indicators of Well-Being, https://www.childstats.gov/americaschildren/eco4.asp).
The CPS-FSS survey questions have been largely unchanged since collection began in
1995. As ERS was coming up on 25 years of data collection with the CPS-FSS, agency
researchers believed it was important to critically review the survey instrument. To ensure the
continued relevance of the survey questions, ERS contracted with the U.S. Census Bureau to
review the CPS-FSS instrument as was currently implemented, develop changes as needed, and
conduct cognitive testing of any possible revisions to the survey instrument. To begin, ERS
researchers undertook a review of the survey items in collaboration with research staff at
USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) and survey methods staff at the Census Bureau’s
Center for Behavior Science Methods in the Research and Methodology Directorate. ERS also
considered previous comments about the survey received from academic food security experts.
Through this review, some wording used in the survey items was perceived to be outdated (for
example, questions asking about food spending referred to spending at produce stands and meat
markets but did not ask about spending at farmers markets or online food purchases). Thus, some
survey items were updated. Also, based on this review, we included minor modifications to some
food security items that are part of the 18-item food security measure, to streamline consistent
language across items and reduce burden (for example, consistently using “wasn’t enough
money for food” across items in place of “we just couldn’t afford more food” used in only a few

For a full history of the food security measure, see: https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition-assistance/foodsecurity-in-the-us/history-background/
1

Sept 2020 CPS-FSS Split Panel, page 3

items). Some new questions regarding nutrition assistance were added to reflect new and
changing Federal and community nutrition assistance programs (for example, a new question
asks about receipt of a free or reduced-price meal or snack at an after-school program). In
addition, reordering of questions was proposed. The food security items were moved earlier in
the survey interview with a possible effect of reducing non-response to the food security items
from break-offs part way through the survey. A new questionnaire was developed for testing that
incorporated revisions to some of the survey items and a reordering of survey items. The revised
questionnaire went through three rounds of cognitive testing led by the U.S. Census Bureau in
2019. The findings and recommendations from the cognitive test are included in a published
Census report (Kephart et al., 2021).
In 2020, ERS sought and received OMB approval for a one-time split panel test to assess
the revised CPS-FSS survey that resulted from the review and cognitive testing process. This
split panel test was a separate data collection from the regular annual CPS-FSS data collection
used to monitor the Nation’s food security. We proposed adding a split panel test because we did
not want the test instrument to impact annual food security estimates in such a way that would
cause an unnecessary break in the long time series. The data from this one-time split panel test
are being used to assess the functioning of the updated questionnaire and the effect of modifying
some survey items on key outcomes of interest, like the measure of food security.

Sept 2020 CPS-FSS Split Panel, page 4

Data and Methods
The general methodology for food security measurement is described in the annual food
security report (Coleman-Jensen et al., 2021) and elsewhere (Bickel et al., 2000; National
Research Council, 2006). 2 This section focuses on the data and methods for the September 2020
split panel.
In a split panel test, a portion of the survey sample receives one questionnaire, and the
other portion of the sample receives an alternate questionnaire. Three-quarters of the regular
monthly CPS sample was eligible for the September 2020 split panel test. Only three-quarters of
the CPS sample was eligible because we did not want to interview households in the test that
may also be interviewed in the regular December 2020 CPS-FSS. CPS months-in-sample groups
2, 3, 4, 6, 7, and 8 were eligible to be interviewed in the September 2020 split panel. We did not
include CPS months-in-sample groups 1 and 5 (one-quarter of the total sample) because they
would be eligible for interview in the regular December 2020 CPS-FSS data collection. The
eight months-in-sample groups are eight representative subsamples of the CPS sample.
Therefore, the September 2020 split panel remains representative as it includes six complete
month-in-sample groups which comprise six representative subsamples. For the split panel test in
September 2020, half of the sample interviewed received the standard food security
questionnaire, and half received the revised test questionnaire that resulted from the expert
review and cognitive interviewing.
In the September 2020 CPS there were 46,300 households. Of these, 11,216 were not
eligible for the food security supplement because they were in months-in-sample groups 1 or 5.
The remaining 35,084 households were eligible for the split panel. For the split panel, 17,496
households were assigned to the test instrument and 17,588 were assigned to the original
instrument. There was a total of 26,292 completed interviews. For the standard instrument there
were 13,160 completed interviews (74.8% response). For the test instrument there were 13,132
completed interviews (75.1% response).

See also a listing of food security measurement and technical research here: https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/foodnutrition-assistance/food-security-in-the-us/survey-tools/#technical
2

Sept 2020 CPS-FSS Split Panel, page 5

Each split panel is weighted separately to be representative of the U.S. population. All
statistics in this report were calculated by applying the food security supplement weight for the
appropriate panel (test instrument or standard instrument). Unweighted estimates are specifically
noted as being unweighted. Unless otherwise noted, statistical differences described in this report
are significant at the 90-percent confidence level. Standard errors were calculated using balanced
repeated replication (BRR) methods based on replicate weights computed for the September
2020 CPS-FSS by the U.S. Census Bureau. Replicate weights were computed separately for each
panel.
The CPS Food Security Supplement includes questions on food spending, food security,
and use of nutrition assistance programs. Each section was modified, although most
modifications were minor updates to question text. There was also reordering of questions with
the food security questions being moved earlier in the module immediately after the food
spending questions. As a result, the questions on Federal nutrition assistance were moved after
the food security questions. This change was made for two reasons, possibly to reduce missing
responses on the food security questions from respondents that started the survey but dropped off
part way through and to reduce any possibility that asking about nutrition assistance prior to the
food security items could influence responses to the food security questions. Modifications to the
instrument are shown in Appendix A which includes the test instrument with revisions
highlighted in yellow. For a summary of modifications and updates, see Box 1: Modifications to
the CPS-FSS Test Instrument.

Sept 2020 CPS-FSS Split Panel, page 6

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Box 1: Modifications to the CPS-FSS Test Instrument.
Food Spending: Questions in the section on food spending were updated and modified to reflect
changes in terminology, the retail environment, and technology. The section first asks
respondents to think about all the places they purchased food, and how much they spent, and
then asks them to report usual food spending. Questions that ask respondents to think about all
the places they spent money on food purchases and how much they spent last week were
modified. For example, the new wording asks about online food purchases and purchases as
farmers markets that were not included when the survey was developed in the 1990s.
Food Security: The section on food security was moved earlier in the survey instrument. A few
child items were modified to standardize the resource constraint to “there wasn’t enough money
for food.” Also, the lead-in to one of the screening variables (HES9) was changed due to moving
sections in the questionnaire.
Federal Nutrition Assistance: The section on Federal nutrition assistance was moved after the
food security section. The lead-in to the first question (HESP1) in the section changed due to
moving the section. Questions on school meals were modified slightly to refer to “reduced-price”
meals instead of “reduced-cost.” A new question was added on receipt of free or reduced-price
afterschool meals and snacks.
Community Food and Nutrition Assistance: The section on community food and nutrition
assistance was modified to use new questions that ask about receipt of free groceries and free
meals. These questions were recommended by Feeding America, based on their expertise in the
charitable feeding sector and their own testing of the questions. The section no longer asks
separate questions about free meals received by the elderly but incudes those programs in the
more general questions about receipt of free meals.
End of Box 1
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sept 2020 CPS-FSS Split Panel, page 7

Methods and Results: Food Spending
In USDA’s annual food security report (Coleman-Jensen et al., 2021) food spending is
reported for various demographic and household groups and by food security status. The survey
questions on food spending aim to help respondents reflect on all the places the household has
purchased food in the previous week. USDA does not report food spending for the individual
questions in the survey. Rather, respondents are first asked to report the amount of money their
households spent on food in the week before the interview, including purchases made with
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Total spending for food, based on
responses to the series of questions about places where food was purchased and how much was
spent, was verified with the respondent. The respondent was then asked how much the household
usually spent on food during a week.
The questions in this section were modified based on expert review and cognitive testing
to better reflect the places where households purchase food currently compared with when the
instrument was first developed. For example, the test instrument now asks about spending at
“Walmart and Target” in addition to supermarkets and grocery stores. The test instrument also
asks about purchases as dollar stores, pharmacies, club stores, farmers markets and online; all
places that were not previously asked about. Again, the survey asks about these specific places to
prompt the respondent to think about all the places they purchased food. The total usual food
spending is the focus of USDA’s analysis of this section, not the specific spending at each type
of retail outlet. The question that forms the basis for usual food spending was not revised in the
test instrument. However, since the questions before it on all the places where the households
purchased food in the last week were revised in the test instrument, there may be differences in
how respondents reported their usual food spending between the test and standard instrument.
Table 1 below is formatted similarly to Table 7 in USDA’s annual food security report.
Usual food spending by split panel is shown in the table. Usual food spending was adjusted for
household size and composition in two ways. First, researchers divided each household’s usual
weekly food expenditure by the number of household members, yielding the “usual weekly food
spending per person” for that household. The second adjustment more precisely accounts for the
different food needs of households by comparing each household’s usual food spending to the

Sept 2020 CPS-FSS Split Panel, page 8

estimated cost of the Thrifty Food Plan (TFP) for that household in September 2020 (https://fnsprod.azureedge.net/sites/default/files/media/file/CostofFoodSep2020.pdf). USDA’s TFP serves
as a national standard for a nutritious, minimal-cost diet. Each household’s reported usual
weekly food spending was divided by the household-specific cost of the TFP, based on the ageand gender-specific cost of the TFP for each household member and the number of persons in the
household.
The medians of each of the two food-spending measures (spending per person per week
and total spending relative to the cost of the September 2020 TFP) were estimated at the national
level and for households in various categories. Medians are reported rather than averages
(means) because medians are not unduly affected by the few unexpectedly high values of food
spending that are believed to be reporting or data entry errors. Thus, the median better reflects
what a typical household spent.
Some interviewed household did not respond to the food-spending questions or reported
zero usual food spending and were excluded from the analysis. For the standard instrument these
exclusions represented 7.8 percent of all U.S. households (6.8 percent of unweighted
respondents). For the test instrument these exclusions represented 6.9 percent of all households
(6.3 percent of unweighted respondents). Nonresponse to the food-spending questions was
somewhat lower with the test instrument—this could be due to random variation or could be due
to better understanding of the question based on improvements made to the food-spending
questions from the expert review and cognitive interviews.
The results for food spending for the standard instrument and test instrument are shown
in Table 1. The left-hand side of the table shows the standard instrument sample and the righthand side shows the test instrument sample. According to the findings for the standard
instrument, reported usual weekly food spending per person was $60 and median weekly food
spending relative to the cost of the TFP was 1.32. The TFP adjust for food price inflation and
adjusts more precisely for the food needs of persons in different age-gender categories. A ratio of
household food spending relative to the TFP that is above 1.0 indicates the household spends
more than the cost of the TFP, a ratio below 1.0 means the household spends less than the cost of

Sept 2020 CPS-FSS Split Panel, page 9

the TFP. The findings for the test instrument show that reported usual weekly food spending per
person was also $60 and median weekly food spending relative to the cost of the TFP was 1.36.
Differences between the panel in food spending relative the TFP were tested for
statistical significance. Differences are statistically significant only for a few categories (denoted
by an asterisk in Table 1), but when differences are significant, reported food spending is higher
for test instrument households. Higher reported food spending suggests an improvement in the
instrument because food spending in the CPS-FSS may be underreported compared with other
sources. For example, ERS’s reported normalized annual food expenditures by households,
suggest a weekly average in food spending of $225 dollars per household in 2020, and $98 per
capita (see the ERS page: https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/food-expenditure-series/, and
specifically Normalized food expenditures by all purchasers and household final users). There is
some seasonal variation in food spending, so the total annual expenditures from the food
expenditure series used to approximate average weekly spending is not precisely comparable to
food spending reported for a single week. Medians are reported in table 1, for those with positive
reported food spending, the average food spending per person per week in the standard
instrument is $68 and the average food spending per person per week in the test instrument is
$69.
To conclude, most differences in usual food spending between the split panels are not
statistically significant. However, the results suggest that the modified questions functioned at
least as well as the standard instrument and show possible improvement, with slightly lower
nonresponse and slightly higher reported food spending.

Sept 2020 CPS-FSS Split Panel, page 10

Table 1
Weekly household food spending per person and relative to the household cost of the Thrifty Food Plan (TFP), by instrument version,
September 2020
Standard Instrument
Test Instrument
Relative to
Relative to
household cost of
household cost of
Number of
Per
Number of
Per
September 2020
September 2020
households1
Person
TFP
households1 Person
TFP
Category
1,000
Dollars
Ratio
1,000
Dollars
Ratio
All households

120,143

60.00

1.32

121,280

60.00

1.36

Household composition:
With children < 18 yrs
At least one child < 6 yrs
Married-couple families
Female head, no spouse
Male head, no spouse
Other household with child2
With no children < 18 yrs
More than one adult
Women living alone
Men living alone
With elderly
Elderly living alone

34,860
14,617
22,876
8,490
3,039
NA
85,283
50,494
19,108
15,681
36,555
13,374

48.00
44.00
50.00
45.00
42.00
NA
65.00
57.50
70.00
80.00
50.00
60.00

1.21
1.28
1.25
1.16
1.09
NA
1.42
1.29
1.52
1.63
1.22
1.30

35,854
14,818
23,479
9,127
2,790
NA
85,426
50,934
19,141
15,351
36,874
13,937

50.00
43.33
46.67
50.00
50.00
NA
65.00
60.00
70.00
80.00
55.00
60.00

1.24
1.25
1.22
1.26 *
1.18
NA
1.44
1.36 *
1.52
1.63
1.24
1.3

Race/ethnicity of household reference
persons:
White, non-Hispanic
Black, non-Hispanic
Hispanic3
Other, non-Hispanic

79,012
15,339
16,697
9,095

60.00
50.00
50.00
60.00

1.40
1.14
1.23
1.38

79,521
15,073
17,591
9,095

60.00
50.00
50.00
56.00

1.42
1.19
1.22
1.29

Household income-to-poverty ratio:

Sept 2020 CPS-FSS Split Panel, page 11

Under 1.00
Under 1.30
Under 1.85
1.85 and over
Income unknown
Area of residence:4
Inside metropolitan area
In principal cities
Not in principal cities
Outside metropolitan area

9,486
14,616
23,323
66,939
29,882

50.00
50.00
50.00
65.00
50.00

1.08
1.08
1.09
1.47
1.22

8,783
14,598
23,314
67,051
30,915

50.00
50.00
50.00
63.33
55.00

1.06
1.08
1.09
1.47
1.30 *

103,172
35,232
52,485
16,971

60.00
60.00
60.00
50.00

1.38
1.43
1.40
1.13

103,910
35,338
52,593
17,370

60.00
60.00
60.00
50.00

1.40
1.42
1.42
1.14

Census geographic region:
Northeast
20,462
60.00
1.47
20,695
62.50
1.48
Midwest
25,509
50.00
1.26
25,946
56.67
1.30
South
46,872
55.00
1.27
46,871
57.50
1.30
West
27,300
60.00
1.41
27,768
60.00
1.33
* Indicates a statistically significant difference between the standard and test instrument in the ratio of food spending relative to the household cost
of the September TFP.
1
Totals exclude households that did not answer the questions about spending on food or reported zero usual food spending. For the Standard
Instrument these exclusions represented 7.8 percent of all households (6.8 percent of unweighted respondents). For the Test Instrument these
exclusions represented 6.9 percent of all households (6.3 percent of unweighted respondents).
2
Households with children in complex living arrangements. Estimates are suppressed (NA) due to small cell sizes, with less than 50 households in
the cell.
3
Hispanics may be of any race.
4
Metropolitan are residence is based on 2013 Office of Management and Budget Delineation.
Source: USDA, Economic Research Service using data from U.S. Census Bureau September 2020 Current Population Survey, Food Security
Supplement.

Sept 2020 CPS-FSS Split Panel, page 12

Methods and Results: Food Security Measures
The primary focus of the CPS-FSS data collection is to collect data on food security in
U.S. households. The data provide information for annual monitoring of the nation’s well-being
and enable research to improve our understanding of the determinants of and policy impacts on
food security. As such it is important to understand how any changes to the survey instrument
may affect food insecurity prevalence estimates. As mentioned previously, the methods
underlying the food security scale have been described elsewhere. Here we focus on a discussion
of how the data from the split panel were analyzed. The food security questions and rules for
assigning each household a food security status are shown in Box 2: Questions Used to Assess
the Food Security of Households in the CPS Food Security Supplement. The measurement
methods are unchanged between the standard and test instrument.
We compare overall food insecurity prevalence rates between the September 2020
standard instrument panel and test instrument panel. We also show the results of the December
2020 annual food security estimates for comparison. As shown in Table 2, panel A, we find
statistically significant differences in both the prevalence of food insecurity and very low food
security between the standard instrument and both the test instrument and regular December
2020 data collection. The prevalence of food insecurity in the standard instrument in September
is 9.7 percent, significantly below the prevalence in both the September test instrument (10.7
percent) and the December standard instrument (10.5 percent). The prevalence of food insecurity
in 2019 was also 10.5 percent (not shown in the table).
The prevalence of very low food security with the September standard instrument was 3.5
percent, significantly below the prevalence in the September test instrument (4.0 percent) and the
December standard instrument (3.9 percent). The difference between the prevalence estimates
obtained from the September standard instrument and the December data collection is not due to
the survey instrument because the same instrument was used in both data collections. There were
no statistically significant differences in the prevalence of food insecurity or very low food
security between the September test instrument and December 2020 CPS-FSS.

Sept 2020 CPS-FSS Split Panel, page 13

Table 2, panel B shows the results for households with children. The prevalence of
household food insecurity for households with children is statistically significantly different
between the September standard instrument (12.8 percent) and the September test instrument
(14.6 percent) and December 2020 CPS-FSS (14.8 percent).
Differences in the prevalence of food insecurity between the test instrument and standard
instrument may be due, in part, to sampling error that has a greater impact on the smaller
samples in the split panel and was potentially more problematic during the COVID-19 pandemic
when response rates were lower. Sampling variation is inherent in any survey that relies on a
sample rather than a census. However, there may have been more sampling error during the
pandemic that resulted in nonresponse bias. Evidence from Census Bureau analysis suggests that
nonresponse during the pandemic was more strongly associated with income than in prior years
of the CPS data collections (Rothbaum and Bee 2021). This is an area for future research with
the CPS-FSS.
The response rates were similar between the test and standard instrument. For all
households in both the standard instrument and test instrument panels, 0.2 percent of all
households were missing on food security status (weighted; see footnote 1, Table 2). For the
standard instrument 22 households (unweighted) were excluded and for the test instrument 26
households (unweighted) were excluded due to having no valid responses to the food security
questions. For households with children, 0.1 percent of households (weighted) in the standard
instrument panel and 0.3 percent of households (weighted) in the test instrument panel were
excluded due to nonresponse on the food security (see footnote 2, Table 2). For the standard
instrument, 3 households with children (unweighted) in the sample were excluded, and the for
the test instrument, 7 households with children (unweighted) in the sample were excluded, based
on nonresponse to the food security items.
The percent of households affirming each of the individual food security questions is
shown in Table 3. Like the results for the food security measures shown in Table 2, Table 3
shows that a lower percentage of households in the September standard instrument tended to
affirm the food security questions when compared to households in the September test
instrument, with statistically significant differences marked with an asterisk. Note that the child

Sept 2020 CPS-FSS Split Panel, page 14

items with changes in wording between the test and standard instrument were not statistically
significantly different.
Given the modest differences observed in the prevalence of food insecurity and rates of
affirmative responses to the food security questions used to construct food security measures
between the standard and test supplements, we conducted additional psychometric analyses to
better understand these differences and their implications for future food security measurement
activities. To do so, we constructed two measurement subsamples based on households
administered the standard and test instruments in the September 2020 CPS-FSS. Households
were included in our standard and test measurement subsamples if their incomes were below 185
percent of the Federal poverty line 3, had no incomplete or missing responses to the food security
questions, and no extreme raw scores (i.e., count of affirmative responses to the food security
questions, extreme raw scores are no affirmative responses or all affirmative responses) on the
10 question adult and 8 question child food security scales. Households with extreme raw scores
are omitted from our subsamples because households with these raw scores are not identified
under the assumptions of the Conditional Maximum Likelihood (CML) Rasch measurement
model used by USDA to develop and continually monitor the properties of adult and child food
security scales. The resulting subsamples for the adult food security scale consisted of 1,192 and
1,241 households administered the standard and test instruments, respectively. For our analysis
of the child food security scales, the subsamples consisted of 316 households administered the
standard instrument and 296 households administered the test instrument.
The four measurement subsamples were used to estimate the parameters of the Rasch
measurement model for the adult and child food security scales, separately, for households
administered the standard and test instruments using the ERSRasch program developed in SAS
by ERS. For the purposes of this report, we will focus our discussion on the Rasch model
parameters that capture the relative severity (in terms of food hardship) for each food security
question. Any differences in the estimates of these severity parameters for households
administered the standard and test instruments may be indications of respondents perceiving the
We use this income threshold for our analyses because it is the screening threshold for a household to be
administered the food security questions in the CPS-FSS. While this does result in the exclusion of small proportion
of high income households from our analyses, it does mitigate bias associated with income that could result from the
screening procedure (Nord, 2012).

3

Sept 2020 CPS-FSS Split Panel, page 15

food security questions differently or reflect differences in the way they experience food
hardships. If this were to occur, then the standard and test instruments would be measuring
different levels of the severity of food hardship, leading to biased comparisons of food security
measures—such as the prevalence of food insecurity—based on these scales.
Estimates of the Rasch severity parameters for the questions for adult food security scale
are show, separately, in Figure 1 for those households administered the standard and test
instruments. The food security questions that are estimated to capture a greater severity of food
hardship in the test instrument relative to the standard instrument are indicated by the red “x’s”
that are located above the equal severity line while those that capture a lesser severity of food
hardship in the test instrument will be below the equal severity line. All the food security
questions that comprise the adult food security scale captured similar levels of the severity of
food hardship in the standard and test instruments, suggesting they would produce comparable
measures of adult food security.
Figure 2 provides estimates of the Rasch severity parameters for the child food security
scale questions, estimated separately for households administered the standard and test
instruments. Like our findings for the adult food security questions, we find that the severity of
the child food security questions is similar for households administered the standard and test
instruments. Therefore, food security measures based these instruments capture similar
experiences related to food insecurity and are comparable. In addition, the proposed wording
changes for “The child in (my/our) household was/The children were) not eating enough because
(I/we) just couldn't afford enough food” and “In the last 12 months, (was the child/were the
children) ever hungry but you just couldn't afford more food?” does not appear to have affected
the way households with children interpreted these questions (see Box 2 for a comparison of
wording between the standard and test questions).
While our psychometric analyses provide evidence that standard and test instruments
produce similar food security measures, it is important to note that the test instrument screened in
more households than the standard supplement. Similar proportions of households administered
the standard (38.2 percent) and test (38.1 percent) instruments were initially screened into the
food security module; however, households administered the test instrument were more likely

Sept 2020 CPS-FSS Split Panel, page 16

than those administered the standard instrument to screen past the first (18.2 percent versus 17.1
percent) and second (8.3 percent versus 7.3 percent) internal food security screeners. Households
administered the standard (12.8 percent) and test (12.9 percent) instruments had similar rates of
passing the child food insecurity screener. Therefore, the test instrument has the potential to lead
to more precisely estimated measures of food security, which has important implications for the
CPS-FSS and ERS food security monitoring procedures. Given the decline in response rates over
the past few years to the monthly CPS and CPS-FSS, screening additional households into food
security module, and in particular to the most severe food insecurity questions, will ensure ERS
is able to reliability produce food security statistics for even the most severe forms of food
insecurity well into the future.
These Rasch analyses suggest that the test instrument measured food insecurity
comparably to the standard USDA instrument. When USDA instituted similar modifications in
previous years, those modifications also did not appreciably affect the food security measure. For
example, in the 2007 CPS-FSS, food security questions were reordered in the questionnaire so
that all household- and adult-referenced questions were administered first, followed by the childreferenced items. Changes were also made in internal screener specifications to accommodate
the new order of questions in 2007, but those changes resulted in only negligible changes in item
responses (see: “December 2007 Microdata File: Technical Documentation, available at
https://www.ers.usda.gov/webdocs/DataFiles/50764/26516_notes1207.pdf?v=5277.8). The
changes in item ordering did not result in a break in the food security series, and food insecurity
estimates were comparable to previous years (Nord et al., 2008). Also, in the 2006 CPS-FSS
questionnaire, the resource constraint was standardized for the adult items, “were you ever
hungry” and “did you lose weight,” to “because there wasn’t enough money for food” so that the
wording of the resource constraint was more consistent across questions (see Nord et al., 2006
and Nord et al., 2007). Again, this minor change did not result in a break in the series or change
in comparability of the estimates from year to year. Given the current findings and past findings
regarding the stability of the food security scale to similar minor modifications, we expect that
the proposed updates to the CPS-FSS instrument will continue to produce comparable estimates
to previous years.

Sept 2020 CPS-FSS Split Panel, page 17

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Box 2: Questions Used to Assess the Food Security of Households in the CPS Food Security
Supplement
1. “We worried whether our food would run out before we got money to buy more.” Was that
often, sometimes, or never true for you in the last 12 months?
2. “The food that we bought just didn’t last, and we didn’t have money to get more.” Was that
often, sometimes, or never true for you in the last 12 months?
3. “We couldn’t afford to eat balanced meals.” Was that often, sometimes, or never true for you
in the last 12 months?
4. In the last 12 months, did you or other adults in the household ever cut the size of your meals
or skip meals because there wasn’t enough money for food? (Yes/No)
5. (If yes to question 4) How often did this happen—almost every month, some months but not
every month, or in only 1 or 2 months?
6. In the last 12 months, did you ever eat less than you felt you should because there wasn’t
enough money for food? (Yes/No)
7. In the last 12 months, were you ever hungry, but didn’t eat, because there wasn’t enough
money for food? (Yes/No)
8. In the last 12 months, did you lose weight because there wasn’t enough money for food?
(Yes/No)
9. In the last 12 months did you or other adults in your household ever not eat for a whole day
because there wasn’t enough money for food? (Yes/No)
10. (If yes to question 9) How often did this happen—almost every month, some months but not
every month, or in only 1 or 2 months?
(Questions 11-18 were asked only if the household included children age 0-17)

11. “We relied on only a few kinds of low-cost food to feed our children because we were
running out of money to buy food.” Was that often, sometimes, or never true for you in the
last 12 months?

Sept 2020 CPS-FSS Split Panel, page 18

12. “We couldn’t feed our children a balanced meal, because we couldn’t afford that.” Was that
often, sometimes, or never true for you in the last 12 months?
13. Standard: “The children were not eating enough because we just couldn’t afford enough
food.” Was that often, sometimes, or never true for you in the last 12 months?
Test: “The children were not eating enough because there wasn’t enough money for food.”
Was that often, sometimes, or never true for you in the last 12 months?
14. In the last 12 months, did you ever cut the size of any of the children’s meals because there
wasn’t enough money for food? (Yes/No)
15. Standard: In the last 12 months, were the children ever hungry but you just couldn’t afford
more food? (Yes/No)
Test: In the last 12 months, were the children ever hungry because there wasn’t enough
money for food? (Yes/No)
16. In the last 12 months, did any of the children ever skip a meal because there wasn’t enough
money for food? (Yes/No)
17. (If yes to question 16) How often did this happen—almost every month, some months but not
every month, or in only 1 or 2 months?
18. In the last 12 months did any of the children ever not eat for a whole day because there
wasn’t enough money for food? (Yes/No)
Coding of Responses
Questions 1-3 and 11-13 are coded as affirmative (i.e., possibly indicating food insecurity) if the
response is “often” or “sometimes.” Questions 5, 10, and 17 are coded as affirmative if the
response is “almost every month” or “some months but not every month.” The remaining
questions are coded as affirmative if the response is “yes.”
Assessing Food Security Status in Households Without Children
Households without children are classified as food insecure if they report 3 or more indications
of food insecurity in response to the first 10 questions; they are classified as having very low
food security if they report 6 or more food-insecure conditions out of the first 10 questions.
Assessing Food Security Status in Households with Children Age 0-17

Sept 2020 CPS-FSS Split Panel, page 19

Households with children are classified as food insecure if they report 3 or more indications of
food insecurity in response to the entire set of 18 questions; they are classified as having very
low food security if they report 8 or more food-insecure conditions in response to the entire set
of 18 questions.
The food security status of children in the household is assessed by responses to the childreferenced questions (11-18). Households reporting two or more of these conditions are
classified as having food insecurity among children. Households reporting five or more are
classified as having very low food security among children.
End of Box 2
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sept 2020 CPS-FSS Split Panel, page 20

Table 2
Households by food security status and instrument version, September and December 2020
Panel A: All Households

Category

Food insecure
Total1
1,000

Food secure
1,000 Percent

All
1,000 Percent

With low food
security
1,000 Percent

With very low
food security
1,000 Percent

September Standard Instrument
All Households
130,124

117,511

90.3 12,613

9.7*+

8,025

6.2

4,588

3.5*+

September Test Instrument
All households

116,080

89.3 13,896

10.7

8,738

6.7

5,158

4.0

December 2020 (standard instrument)
130,459 116,705
All households

89.5 13,754

10.5

8,613

6.6

5,141

3.9

129,976

Panel B: Households with Children
Households
with foodinsecure
children
1,000 Percent

Households with
very low food
security among
children
1,000 Percent

Food-secure
households
1,000
Percent

Food-insecure
households
1,000 Percent

September Standard Instrument
All households with children
37,275

32,506

87.2

4,769

12.8*+ 2,320

6.2+

200

0.5

September Test Instrument
All households with children

32,331

85.4

5,533

14.6 2,707

7.1

311

0.8

Category

Total2
1,000

37,864

December 2020 (standard instrument)

Sept 2020 CPS-FSS Split Panel, page 21

All households with children
37,903
32,280
85.2 5,623
14.8 2,870
7.6
322
0.8
* Difference between the September standard instrument and September test instrument is statistically significant with 90-percent confidence (t >
1.645).
+ Difference between the September standard instrument and December standard instrument is statistically significant with 90-percent confidence
(t > 1.645).
1
Totals exclude households for which food security status is unknown because household respondents did not give a valid response to any of the
questions in the food security scale. For all households (panel A) these exclusions representations:
September 2020 Standard Instrument: 218,000 households (0.2 percent of all households)
September 2020 Test Instrument: 315,000 households (0.2 percent of all households)
December 2020 CPS-FSS: 308,000 households (0.2 percent of all households)
2
Totals exclude households for which food security status is unknown because household respondents did not give a valid response to any of the
questions in the food security scale. For households with children (panel B) these exclusions representations:
September 2020 Standard Instrument: 28,000 households (0.1 percent of all households)
September 2020 Test Instrument: 115,000 households (0.3 percent of all households)
December 2020 CPS-FSS: 106,000 households (0.3 percent of all households with children)
Source: USDA, Economic Research Service using data from U.S. Census Bureau September 2020 and December 2020 Current Population Survey,
Food Security Supplement.

Sept 2020 CPS-FSS Split Panel, page 22

Table 3
Responses to items in the food security scale, Standard Instrument and Test Instrument, September 2020
Households affirming item
Scale item1
Standard
Test
Household items:
Worried food would run out before (I/we) got money to buy more
Food bought didn't last and (I/we) didn't have money to get more
Couldn't afford to eat balanced meals
Adult items:
Adult(s) cut size of meals or skipped meals
Respondent ate less than felt he/she should
Adult(s) cut size or skipped meals in 3 or more months
Respondent hungry but didn't eat because couldn't afford
Respondent lost weight
Adult(s) did not eat for whole day
Adult(s) did not eat for whole day in 3 or more months

14.0
10.9
10.4

14.7
11.6
11.8 *

5.7
5.7
4.1
3.0
2.0
1.1
0.8

6.3 *
6.5 *
4.7 *
3.2
2.2
1.1
0.8

Child items:
Relied on few kinds of low-cost food to feed child(ren)
11.6
11.8
Couldn't feed child(ren) balanced meals
6.6
7.4
Child(ren) were not eating enough
3.0
2.9
Cut size of child(ren)'s meals
1.5
1.6
Child(ren) were hungry
0.6
1.0
Child(ren) skipped meals
0.4
0.6
Child(ren) skipped meals in 3 or more months
0.2
0.4
Child(ren) did not eat for whole day
0.1
0.1
* Difference between the September standard instrument and September test instrument is statistically
significant with 90-percent confidence (t > 1.645).
1
The full wording of each questions includes explicit reference to resource limitation. See Box 2 for item
wording.
2
Households not responding to an item are omitted from the calculations of percentages for that item.
Household without children are omitted from the calculation of child-referenced items.
Source: USDA, Economic Research Service using data from U.S. Census Bureau September 2020
Current Population Survey Food Security Supplement.

Sept 2020 CPS-FSS Split Panel, page 23

Figure 1. Comparisons of the adult food security scale question severity parameters, 2020 September
CPS-FSS test versus standard instrument
9
whldayf
whlday
losewt

Item severity, test instrument

8

hungry

7
cutskipf

eatless

6

cutskip
5
balmeal

4

fnotlast

3
2

worried

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

Item severity, standard instrument
Test instrument

Equal Severity

Note. Question severity parameters estimated from separate CML Rasch measurement models for
households administered the standard and test instruments in the 2020 September CPS-FSS.
Source: USDA, Economic Research Service using data from U.S. Census Bureau September 2020
Current Population Survey Food Security Supplement.

Sept 2020 CPS-FSS Split Panel, page 24

Figure 2. Comparisons of the child food security scale question severity parameters, 2020 September
CPS-FSS test versus standard instrument
13
chwhlday

Severity parameter, test instrument

12
11

chskipf

10
chhungry

9

chskip

chcut

8
chenuf

7
6
5

chbal

4
3
2

chfewfd
2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

Severity parameter, standard instrument
Test instrument

Equal Severity

Note. Question severity parameters estimated from separate CML Rasch measurement models for
households administered the standard and test instruments in the 2020 September CPS-FSS.
Source: USDA, Economic Research Service using data from U.S. Census Bureau September 2020
Current Population Survey Food Security Supplement.

Sept 2020 CPS-FSS Split Panel, page 25

Methods and Results: Federal Nutrition Assistance
In USDA’s annual food security report, statistics on the use of Federal Nutrition
Assistance by food security status is presented. The CPS-FSS data on nutrition assistance is not
intended to describe total participation in these programs. Participation rates of eligible
households and characteristics of participation are available from USDA’s Food and Nutrition
Service. Rather, the data in the CPS-FSS and information presented in USDA’s report is meant
to inform understanding of the relationship between nutrition assistance programs and food
security. This section includes information on participation in the three largest Federal nutrition
assistance programs: SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly Food
Stamps), free or reduced-price school lunch from the National School Lunch Program (NSLP),
and WIC (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).
In the CPS-FSS all households with reported annual income below 185 percent of the
Federal Poverty threshold were asked questions about their participation in Federal nutrition
assistance. To minimize respondent burden, households with annual incomes above that range
were not asked the questions unless they indicated some level of difficulty in meeting their food
needs on the first of the two preliminary screener questions asked of all households (HES9). Due
to the change in the location of the nutrition assistance questions in the test instrument, the
second preliminary screener question on food insufficiency was also used as a screener question
for the nutrition assistance items in the test instrument.
In the split panel, there were a few differences between the standard and test instrument.
In the test instrument, the questions on Federal nutrition assistance were moved after the
questions on food security. The lead in to one of the screener questions (HES9) was also
changed, due to the change in location of the question. The standard and test lead ins for HES9
are:
Standard: People do different things when they are running out of money for food in
order to make their food or their food money go further.
In the last 12 months, since September of last year, did you ever run short of money and
try to make your food or your food money go further?

Sept 2020 CPS-FSS Split Panel, page 26

Test: The next questions are about the food eaten in your household in the last 12
months, since September of last year, and whether you were able to afford the food you
need.
In the last 12 months, since September of last year, did you ever run short of money and
try to make your food or your food money go further?
Also, a lead in for the question about participation in SNAP was added (HESP1) in the
test instrument due to the new location in the instrument. There was no lead in for the standard
instrument because the question about SNAP immediately followed question HES9 (shown just
above). For both these items, there was no change to the wording of the question itself.
Questions about free and reduced-price lunch were modified to use reduced-price language
instead of reduced-cost meals, which is more consistent with the Federal programs.
Standard: In the past 12 months, did (you/anyone in this household) get SNAP or food
stamp benefits?
Test: Sometimes people need help getting food for their household. There are many
programs that can help.
In the past 12 months, did (you/anyone in this household) get SNAP or food stamp
benefits?
A new question was added about the receipt of free or reduced-price meals or snacks at
an after-school program. USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service staff recommended we ask about
these programs during the expert review of the CPS-FSS instrument. These afterschool supper
programs have become more common in recent years. There was a slight error in the test
instrument for this item, and only households that reported receipt of free or reduced-price
school lunch were asked the item. In the regular implementation of the revised instrument, all
low-income or screened-in households with school-age children will be asked this item,
regardless of whether they receive free or reduced-price school meals. One potential concern
with the item before the test was that only a small number of households might affirm the item.
Given that the survey was administered in September 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic

Sept 2020 CPS-FSS Split Panel, page 27

when many school districts had implemented online-learning, and given that only households
reporting receipt of free or reduced-price school lunch were asked the item, the number of
affirmative responses is likely suppressed. However, a total of 163 households affirmed the item
with the test, and that total is likely to be higher when schools are open for in-person learning,
the universe of the item is not restricted, and the item is administered in a full CPS sample. Thus,
the item will likely have sufficient affirmations in a regular implementation to be useable for
research and analysis.
New test question: During the past 30 days, did any children in the household (between
5 and 18 years old) receive a free or reduced-price meal or snack at an after school
program? [Note: The item will be asked only of households with school-age children.
And for households with younger children in the household as well, the parenthetical will
be added to indicate to the respondent that the question only refers to school-age
children.]
Table 4 shows the prevalence of food insecurity by participation in Federal nutrition
assistance programs. The only statistically significant differences between the standard and test
instrument are in the prevalence of food insecurity for SNAP participants. The prevalence of
food insecurity among low-income households that received SNAP benefits in the previous 12
months was 39.3 percent in the standard instrument, significantly lower than 46.7 percent in the
test instrument. This difference is driven primarily by the difference in food insecurity between
the standard and test instrument for households that received SNAP benefits in all 12 months,
where 39.3 percent of SNAP recipients in the standard instrument were food insecure, and 48.6
percent of SNAP recipient households in the test instrument were food insecure. In December
2020, 45.4 percent of low-income households that received SNAP benefits in the previous 12
months were food insecure (for the December 2020 estimates, see table 8 in Coleman-Jensen et
al., 2021). The patterns between the test and standard instrument are similar and consistent with
findings from previous years. We see higher food insecurity rates among low-income
participants, than among low-income non-participants. Like the prevalence of food insecurity
shown in Table 2, the prevalence estimates of food insecurity shown in Table 4 for the test
instrument are more similar to the December 2020 estimates than are the estimates for the
September standard instrument.

Sept 2020 CPS-FSS Split Panel, page 28

The results suggest that the modified nutrition assistance items functioned as well as the
standard instrument. There were no statistically significant differences for those receiving free or
reduced-price school lunch. There is a statistically significant difference for the prevalence of
food insecurity among those that received SNAP in the previous 12 months, but this may be due
to differences in the sample, since the estimates from the test instrument are more similar to the
December 2020 standard instrument than are the estimates from the September standard
instrument. Adding the additional food insufficiency screening variable to screen households into
the nutrition assistance section of the questionnaire and adding a lead-in to the SNAP variable
may have affected SNAP reporting, but any possible effect does not appear to be deleterious.
Cell sizes are relatively small for these estimates, so sampling errors or misreporting may have
an undue effect on the estimates. There was a total of 672 low-income households in the test
instrument and 706 households in the standard instrument that reported receipt of SNAP benefits
and had valid food security data. Previous research has shown that nutrition assistance
participation is underreported by household survey respondents in the CPS (see footnote 45 in
Coleman-Jensen et al., 2021; and Meyer and George, 2011).

Sept 2020 CPS-FSS Split Panel, page 29

Table 4
Percentage of households by food security status and participation in selected Federal nutrition assistance programs, by instrument
version, September 2020
Standard Instrument
Food insecure

Food
secure
Income less than 130 percent of poverty line:
Received SNAP1 benefits previous 12 months
Received SNAP benefits all 12 months
Received SNAP benefits 1 to 11 months
Did not receive SNAP benefits previous 12
months
Income less than 185 percent of poverty line;
school-age children in household:
Received NSLP2 free or reduced-price school
lunch previous 30 days
Did not receive NSLP free or reduced-price
school lunch previous 30 days

With
With
very
low
low
food
food
All
security security
Percent

60.7
60.7
60.7

39.3
39.3
39.3

20.0
19.7
21.0

19.3
19.6
18.3

78.3

21.7

12.4

68.8

31.2

71.5

28.5

Food
secure

Test Instrument
Food insecure
With
With
very
low
low
food
food
All
security security
Percent

53.3 46.7*
51.4 48.6*
57.4 42.6

26.4
29.1
20.5

20.3
19.5
22.2

9.3

75.1

24.9

14.5

10.4

21.8

9.3

62.3

37.7

26.6

11.1

17.0

11.5

71.0

29.0

19.1

10.0

Income less than 185 percent of poverty line;
children under age 5 in household:
Received WIC3 previous 30 days
70.4
29.6
14.5
15.1
62.4 37.6
30.8
6.9
Did not receive WIC previous 30 days
76.0
24.0
16.6
7.4
70.0 30.0
18.6
11.4
* Difference between September standard instrument and September test instrument is statistically significant with 90-percent confidence (t >
1.645).
1
SNAP=Supplement Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly the Food Stamp Program.
2
NSLP=National School Lunch Program

Sept 2020 CPS-FSS Split Panel, page 30
3

WIC= Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children
Source: USDA, Economic Research Service using data from U.S. Census Bureau September 2020 Current Population Survey, Food Security
Supplement.

Sept 2020 CPS-FSS Split Panel, page 31

Methods and Results: Community Nutrition Assistance
In USDA’s statistical supplement to the annual food security report, statistics on the use
of community nutrition assistance program are presented by food security status (ColemanJensen et al., 2021b). The combined use of community and Federal nutrition assistance are also
reported, as is use of food pantries by household characteristics. Community nutrition assistance
refers to free food available from food pantries, food banks, churches, etc., as well as free meals
received from community soup kitchens and other sources. Anti-hunger advocates had
previously commented to ERS staff that the statistics from the CPS-FSS are likely
underestimating the use of community nutrition assistance, do not cover the full-range of how
free food is made available, and are dated in the terminology used in the questions. As a result,
we revised the items based on recommended wording from Feeding America. These items
underwent cognitive testing and based on the recommendations of expert review and cognitive
testing these new items were included in the food security test instrument.
One item in the standard instrument asked about emergency food from food pantries and
another asks about meals from a soup kitchen. These items were revised significantly. See the
wording below from the standard and test instruments:
Standard Instrument:
Food pantries: In the last 12 months, did you or other adults in your household ever get
emergency food from a church, a food pantry, or food bank?
Soup kitchens: In the last 12 months, did you or other adults in your household ever eat
any meals at a soup kitchen or shelter?
Test Instrument:
Free groceries: In the last 12 months, did you or anyone in your household ever get free
groceries from a food pantry, food bank, church, or other place that helps with free food?
Free meals: In the last 12 months, have you or anyone in your household received a free
meal from a church, shelter, home-delivered meal service like Meals on Wheels, other
place that helps with free meals?

Sept 2020 CPS-FSS Split Panel, page 32

Differences in statistical significance are not presented in Table 5 because there is no
expectation that these items are comparable given the changes in wording. The new questions
about receipt of free groceries and free meals appear to have functioned adequately. For both
questions in the test panel, receipt of free food was more common for food-insecure households,
and most common for households with very low food security. This is to be expected as use of
nutrition assistance, both Federal and community, is more common among food-insecure
households. In addition, in the test panel, reported receipt was more common among low-income
households. For households with incomes under 185 percent of poverty, 21.9 percent reported
receipt of free groceries and 7.47 percent reported receipt of free meals. By contrast, in the test
panel, among households with incomes of 185 percent of poverty and over, 3 percent reported
receipt of free groceries and 0.7 percent reported receipt of free meals (estimates not shown in
table). These findings further confirm that the relationship between receipt of community
nutrition assistance as obtained from the test instrument and household income is as expected.
For both the question about free groceries and free meals in the test supplement, the
reported receipt is higher than for the questions about food pantries and soup kitchens in the
standard instrument. This is consistent with our expectation for the test items. The language for
the test items is more inclusive in several ways, including asking if “anyone in your household”
received assistance rather than just “adults,” referring to “free groceries” rather than only
“emergency food,” asking about “home-delivered meals”, and by asking about any “other place
that helps with free food/meals.” Based on expert review, cognitive testing, and the results of the
test instrument the revised questions on community nutrition assistance appear to be an
improvement and function well.

Sept 2020 CPS-FSS Split Panel, page 33

Table 5
Use of community nutrition assistance1, by standard and test instrument, September 2020
Standard Instrument
Test Instrument
Food pantries
Soup kitchens
Free groceries
Free meals
Total
Users
Total
Users
Total
Users
Total
Users
1,000 1,000 Percent
1,000 1,000 Percent
1,000 1,000 Percent
1,000 1,000 Percent
All households2

129,564 7,584

5.9

129,574

597

0.5

129,198 8,888

6.9

129,103 2,705

2.1

Households by food security status3:
Food secure
117,108 3,618
3.1
117,121
224
0.2
115,597 4,355
3.8
115,533 1,448
1.3
Food insecure
12,454 3,966
31.8
12,437
374
3.0
13,566 4,533
33.4
13,546 1,257
9.3
Low food
security
7,963 2,174
27.3
7,938
206
2.6
8,530 2,598
30.5
8,529
579
6.8
Very low food
security
4,491 1,793
39.9
4,499
167
3.7
5,036 1,934
38.4
5,018
678
13.5
1
Questions about receipt of community nutrition assistance are not comparable between the standard and test instrument. Percentages between the
two instruments are not tested for statistical significance, because the wording of the items changed enough that there is no expectation of
comparability.
2
Totals for “All households” exclude households that did not answer the question about food pantries/free groceries or emergency kitchens/free
meals. For all households these exclusions represent:
September 2020 Standard Instrument: 0.6 percent of all households had missing data on food pantries, and 0.6 percent of all households
had missing data on soup kitchens.
September 2020 Test Instrument: 0.8 percent of all households had missing data on free groceries, and 0.9 percent of all households had
missing data on free meals.
3
Totals also exclude households for which food security status is unknown because household respondents did not give a valid response to any of
the questions in the food security scale.
Source: USDA, Economic Research Service using data from U.S. Census Bureau September 2020 Current Population Survey, Food Security
Supplement.

Sept 2020 CPS-FSS Split Panel, page 34

Conclusions
Based on the analysis of the split panel test in the September 2020 CPS-FSS discussed
here, we believe that the test instrument performed well. Observed differences in the test and
standard instrument for food spending and community nutrition assistance were expected. The
Rasch analysis confirms that the minor changes to the food security section are unlikely to
impact the measurement of food insecurity, or impact comparability of estimates from year-toyear. We concur with the recommendations from the expert review, and from the cognitive
testing, and now based on analysis of the survey data, that updates to the CPS-FSS September
2020 test instrument should be implemented in the regular CPS-FSS data collection moving
forward. Any changes to the regular CPS-FSS December instrument will be documented for
researchers and data users and for stakeholders reading or citing the annual report, Household
Food Security in the United States.

Sept 2020 CPS-FSS Split Panel, page 35

References
Coleman-Jensen, Alisha, Matthew P. Rabbitt, Christian A. Gregory, and Anita Singh, 2021,
Household Food Security in the United States in 2020, Economic Research Report
Number 298, Economic Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, September 8.
https://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/pub-details/?pubid=102075
Coleman-Jensen, Alisha, Matthew P. Rabbitt, Christian A. Gregory, and Anita Singh, 2021b,
Statistical Supplement to Household Food Security in the United States in 2020,
Administrative Publication Number 091, Economic Research Service, U.S. Department
of Agriculture, September 8. https://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/pubdetails/?pubid=102071
Kephart, Kathleen, Jonathan Katz, Matthew Virgile, Rodney Terry, and Jessica Holzberg, 2021,
Cognitive Testing Results for the Current Population Survey Food Security Supplement,
Research Report Series: Survey Methodology Number 2021-06, Center for Behavioral
Science Methods, Research and Methodology Directorate, U.S. Census Bureau,
November 12. https://www.census.gov/library/working-papers/2021/adrm/rsm202106.html
Meyer, Bruce D., and Robert George, 2011, “Errors in Survey Reporting and Imputation and
Their Effects on Estimation of Food Stamp Participation,” Working Paper, The Harris
School, University of Chicago.
Nord, Mark, Margaret Andrews, and Steven Carlson, 2006, Household Food Security in the
United States, 2005, Economic Research Report Number 29, Economic Research
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, November.
https://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/pub-details/?pubid=45668
Nord, Mark, Margaret Andrews, and Steven Carlson, 2007, Household Food Security in the
United States, 2006, Economic Research Report Number 49, Economic Research
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, November.
https://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/pub-details/?pubid=45902
Nord, Mark, Margaret Andrews, and Steven Carlson, 2008, Household Food Security in the
United States, 2007, Economic Research Report Number 66, Economic Research
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, November.
https://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/pub-details/?pubid=46086
Rothbaum, Jonathan and Adam Bee, 2021, Coronavirus Infects Surveys, Too: Survey
Nonresponse Bias and the Coronavirus Pandemic, Working Paper Number SEHSD
WP2020-10, Social, Economic, and Housing Statistics Division Working Papers, U.S.
Census Bureau, March 30. https://www.census.gov/library/workingpapers/2020/demo/SEHSD-WP2020-10.html

Sept 2020 CPS-FSS Split Panel, page 36

Appendix A
TEST QUESTIONNAIRE – SEPTEMBER 2020 FOOD SECURITY SUPPLEMENT
Test Questionnaire to test recommended changes from Census Cognitive Testing
Draft test questionnaire January 3, 2020
NOTE: This test version starts with the 2019 CPS-FSS questionnaire. HRPOOR may need to be
updated before final production in September 2020. Changes from 2018 CPS-FSS to 2019 CPSFSS questionnaire: There are updates to the POORCK specification (HRPOOR variable). Three
new household size and income combinations will be screened into the module in 2019 with
POOR now equal to 1 for these groups. Changes are highlighted in yellow below in POORCK
specification and shown here:
NUMHOU=1 and FAMINC=8 set POOR=1
NUMHOU=4 and FAMINC=12 set POOR=1
NUMHOU=5 and FAMINC=13 set POOR=1
NOTE: Update year where appropriate to 2020. Update month where appropriate from
December to September. Changes for test are highlighted in yellow.
SPECIFICATIONS
Set SUPTM
SUPTM is a timer for the entire supplement.
------------------------------------------------------------NOTES:
and are State-specific names for the
SNAP/Food Stamp program.
------------------------------------------------------------POORCK
NUMHOU = 1 and FAMINC = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8 set POOR=1 else if
NUMHOU = 2 and FAMINC = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9 set POOR=1 else if
NUMHOU = 3 and FAMINC = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 set POOR=1 else if
NUMHOU = 4 and FAMINC = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, or 12 set POOR=1
else if
NUMHOU = 5 and FAMINC = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 or 13 set
POOR=1 else if
NUMHOU = 6 and FAMINC = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, or 13 set
POOR=1 else if
NUMHOU = 7 and FAMINC = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, or 14 set
POOR=1 else if
NUMHOU = 8 and FAMINC = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, or 14 set
POOR=1 else if
NUMHOU= 9-16 and FAMINC = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, or 15
set POOR=1
else if
Set POOR = 2.
-------------------------------------------------------------

Sept 2020 CPS-FSS Split Panel, page 37

[LEAD for one-person households] This month we are asking some questions about
food used in your household and the ways you are managing to meet your food
needs.
[Lead for two or more person households] This month we are asking some questions
about food used in your household and the ways you are managing to meet your
food needs. (/The best person to answer would be the adult most knowledgeable
about food shopping and meal preparation. Would that be you or someone else?)
[Change respondent if needed and available, otherwise continue with current respondent]
[If group quarters, go to S9]
I. FOOD EXPENDITURES
S1A

If more than one HHMEM=1 has an AGE equal to or greater than 10 fill
with second option else fill with first option.
These first questions are about all the places at which you bought food LAST
WEEK. By LAST WEEK, I mean from Sunday through Saturday.
First, did (you/anyone in your household) shop for food at a
supermarket, grocery store, Walmart or Target LAST WEEK?
<1>
<2>

Yes
No

Blind or
SCOMPL

If onpath entry, D or R in S1A then set SCOMPL=1 otherwise set SCOMPL=0

S1B

If more than one HHMEM=1 has an AGE equal to or greater than
10 fill with second option else fill with first option.
Think about other places where people buy food, such as dollar stores,
pharmacies, club stores, farmers markets, or online. Did (you/anyone in your
household) buy food from any stores such as these LAST WEEK?
<1>
<2>

Yes
No

Blind or
S1C

If more than one HHMEM=1 has an AGE equal to or greater than 6 fill
with second option else fill with first option else fill with first option in first
parenthetical.

Sept 2020 CPS-FSS Split Panel, page 38

If one or more HHMEM=1 with AGE between 6 and 18 then fill second
parenthetical else fill blank.
LAST WEEK, did (you/anyone in your household) buy food at a restaurant,
fast food place, cafeteria, deli, convenience store, or vending machine?
(Include any children who may have bought food at the school cafeteria).
<1>
<2>

Yes
No

Blind or
S1D

If more than one HHMEM=1 has an AGE equal to or greater than 10 fill with
second option else fill with first option.
Did (you/anyone in your household) buy food from any other kind of place
LAST WEEK?
<1>
<2>

Yes
No

Blind or
SCKA

If onpath entry of <2>, or in S1A, S1B, S1C and S1D then skip to S8
else go to SLEAD.

SLEAD

Now I'm going to ask you about the TOTAL amount you spent on food
LAST WEEK in all the places where you bought food. Then, since LAST
WEEK may have been unusual for you, I will ask about the amount you
USUALLY spend.
Proceed

SCKB
S2

If onpath entry of <1> in S1A then ask S2 else skip to SCKC.
If more than one HHMEM=1 has an AGE equal to or greater than 10 fill
with second option else fill with first option.
If POOR=1 then fill second parenthetical else fill blank.
How much did (you/anyone in your household) spend in total at
supermarkets, grocery stores, Walmart or Target LAST WEEK (including
any purchases made with or food stamp benefits)?
ENTER <0> IF RESPONDENT CAN ONLY GIVE RANGE

Sept 2020 CPS-FSS Split Panel, page 39

$_ _ _.00
S2CK

If entry of <0> in S2 goto S2CK1A else store entry in S2O. If S2O is
between $1.00 and $450.00 goto S3A else if S2O is equal to D or R go to SCKC
otherwise go to S2RC.

S2CK1A

**************DO NOT READ TO RESPONDENT *******************
Enter range reported by respondent
_ _ _.00
If entry is D or R, store in S2O
<1-999> GOTO S2CK1B
GOTO SCKC

S2CK1B

Enter range reported by respondent
_ _ _.00
If entry is D or R, store in S2O
<1-999> GOTO S2RG
GOTO SCKC

S2RG

Add the entries in S2CK1A and S2CK1B and divide by 2. Store the
answer in S2O. If S2O is between $1.00 and $450.00 go to S3A otherwise go to
S2RC.

S2RC

*****************DO NOT ASK THE RESPONDENT*******************
Amount spent recorded as: (entry in S2O) Is this entry correct?
<1>
<2>

S2COR

YES (GO TO S3A)
NO (GO TO S2COR)

***************DO NOT ASK THE RESPONDENT****************
Incorrect entry was recorded as:
Correct entry is:

(entry in S2O)

$_ _ _.00 (store entry in S2O)

Sept 2020 CPS-FSS Split Panel, page 40

S3A

How much of the (fill with S2O) was for non-food items, such as pet
food, paper products, alcohol, detergents, or cleaning supplies?
Enter <1> for whole dollar amount (GOTO S3)
Enter <2> if respondent can only give range (GOTO S3CK2A)
$_ _ _.00
Blind or (GOTO SCKC)

S3

Enter whole dollar amount
$_ _ _.00
Store amount in S3O
<1-100> GOTO SCKC
<0, ge 101> GOTO S3RC

S3CK2A

******************DO NOT READ TO ESPONDENT*******************
Enter range reported by respondent
_ _ _.00
If entry is D or R, store in S3O
<1-999> GOTO S3CK2B
GOTO SCKC

S3CK2B

Enter range reported by respondent
_ _ _.00
If entry is D or R, store in S3O
<1-999> GOTO S3RG
GOTO SCKC

S3RG

Add the entries in S3CK2A and S3CK2B and divide by 2. Store the
answer in S3O. Do not allow entry in S3O to be greater than entry in S2O. If
S3O is between $1.00 and $100.00 go to SCKC otherwise go to S3RC.

S3RC

*************DO NOT ASK THE RESPONDENT**********************
Amount spent recorded as: (entry in S3O)

Sept 2020 CPS-FSS Split Panel, page 41

Is this entry correct?
<1>
<2>
S3COR

YES (GO TO SCKC)
NO (GO TO S3COR)

***************DO NOT ASK THE RESPONDENT******************
Incorrect entry was recorded as:
Correct entry is:

(entry in S3O)

$_ _ _.00 (store entry in S3O)
Do not allow entry in S3O to be greater than entry in S2O.
SCKC
S4

If onpath entry of <1> in S1B then ask S4 else skip to SCKD.
If more than one HHMEM=1 has an AGE equal to or greater than 10 fill
with second option else fill with first option.
If POOR=1 then fill second parenthetical with first option else fill with blank.
How much did (you/your household) spend at stores such as dollar stores,
pharmacies, club stores, farmers markets, or online LAST WEEK
(including any purchases made with or food stamp
benefits)?
Enter whole dollar amount
Enter <0> if respondent can only give range
$_ _ _.00
Blind or (GO TO SCKD)

S4CK

If entry of <0> in S4 go to S4CK1A else store entry in S4O. If S4O is
between $1.00 and $300.00 go to S5 else if S4O is D or R go to SCKD otherwise
go to S4RC.

S4CK1A

**************DO NOT READ TO RESPONDENT*******************
Enter range reported by respondent
_ _ _.00
If entry is D or R, store in S4O
<1-999> GOTO S4CK1B

Sept 2020 CPS-FSS Split Panel, page 42

GOTO SCKD
S4CK1B

Enter range reported by respondent
_ _ _.00
If entry is D or R, store in S4O
<1-999> GOTO S4RG
GOTO SCKD

S4RG

Add the entries in S4CK1A and S4CK1B and divide by 2. Store the answer in
S4O. If S4O is between $1.00 and $300.00 go to S5A otherwise go to S4RC.

S4RC

*****************DO NOT READ TO RESPONDENT******************
Amount spent recorded as: (entry in S4O)
Is this entry correct?
<1> Yes (GO TO S5A)
<2> No (GO TO S4COR)

S4COR

***************DO NOT READ TO RESPONDENT********************
Incorrect entry was recorded as: (entry in S4O)
Correct entry is:
$_ _ _.00 (store entry in S4O)

S5A

How much of the $(fill with S4O) was for non-food items, such as pet food,
paper products, alcohol, detergents, or cleaning supplies?
Enter <1> for whole dollar amount (GOTO S5)
Enter <2> if respondent can only give range (GOTO S5CK1A)
$_ _ _.00
Blind or (GOTO SCKD)

S5

Enter whole dollar amount
$_ _ _.00
Store amount in S5O
<1-100> GOTO SCKD

Sept 2020 CPS-FSS Split Panel, page 43

GOTO S5RC
S5CK1A

******************DO NOT READ TO ESPONDENT*******************
Enter range reported by respondent
_ _ _.00
If entry is D or R, store in S5O
<1-999> GOTO S5CK1B
GOTO SCKD

S5CK1B

Enter range reported by respondent
_ _ _.00
If entry is D or R, store in S5O
<1-999> GOTO S5RG
GOTO SCKD

S5RG

Add the entries in S5CK1A and S5CK1B and divide by 2. Store the
answer in S5O. Do not allow entry in S5O to be greater than entry in S4O. If S5O
is between $1.00 and 100.00 go to SCKD else go to S5RC.

S5RC

***************DO NOT ASK THE RESPONDENT***************
Amount spent recorded as : (entry in S5O)
Is this entry correct?
<1>
<2>

S5COR

Yes (GO TO SCKD)
No (GO TO S5COR)

***************DO NOT ASK THE RESPONDENT*******************
Incorrect entry was recorded as:
Correct entry is:

(entry in S5O)

$_ _ _.00 (store entry in S5O)
Do not allow entry in S5O to be greater than entry in S4O.
SCKD

If entry of <1> in S1C then ask S6 else skip to SCKE

Sept 2020 CPS-FSS Split Panel, page 44

S6

If more than one HHMEM=1 has an AGE equal to or greater than 10 fill
with second option else fill with first option.
How much did (you/your household) spend for food at restaurants, fast food
places, cafeterias, delis, convenience stores, and vending machines LAST
WEEK, not including alcohol purchases (including any purchases made with
(SNAP/ Food Supplement Program) or food stamp benefits)?
Enter whole dollar amount
Enter <0> if respondent can only give range
$_ _ _.00
Blind or
If entry is 1-999, D, or R store in S6O
<0> GOTO S6CK1A
<1-200, D, R> GOTO SCKE
GOTO S6RC

S6CK1A

**************DO NOT READ TO RESPONDENT *******************
Enter range reported by respondent
_ _ _.00
If entry is D or R, store in S6O
<1-999> GOTO S6CK1B
GOTO SCKE

S6CK1B

Enter range reported by respondent
_ _ _.00
If entry is D or R, store in S6O
<1-999> GOTO S6RG
GOTO SCKE

S6RG

Add the entries in S6CK1A and S6CK1B and divide by 2. Store the
answer in S6O. If S6O is between $1.00 and $200.00 go to SCKE else go to
S6RC.

S6RC

***************DO NOT ASK THE RESPONDENT*****************

Sept 2020 CPS-FSS Split Panel, page 45

Amount spent recorded as : (entry in S6O)
Is this entry correct?
<1>
<2>
S6COR

Yes (GO TO SCKE)
No (GO TO S6COR)

**************DO NOT ASK THE RESPONDENT********************
Incorrect entry was recorded as:
Correct entry is:

(entry in S6O)

$_ _ _.00 (store entry in S6O)
SCKE
S7

If entry of <1> in S1D then ask S7 else skip to SCKF.
If more than one HHMEM=1 has an AGE equal to or greater than 10 fill
with second option else fill with first option.
How much did (you/your household) spend for food at any other kind of
place LAST WEEK?
Enter whole dollar amount
Enter <0> if respondent can only give range
$_ _ _.00
Blind or
If entry is 1-999, D, or R store in S7O
<0> GOTO S7CK1A
<1-150> GOTO SCKF
GOTO S7RC
GOTO SCKF

S7CK1A

**************DO NOT READ TO RESPONDENT *******************
Enter range reported by respondent
_ _ _.00
If entry is D or R, store in S7O
<1-999> GOTO S7CK1B
GOTO SCKF

Sept 2020 CPS-FSS Split Panel, page 46

S7CK1B

Enter range reported by respondent
_ _ _.00
If entry is D or R, store in S7O
<1-999> GOTO S7RG
GOTO SCKF

S7RG

Add the entries in S7CK1A and S7CK1B and divide by 2. Store the
answer in S7O. If S7O is between $1.00 and $150.00 go to SCKF otherwise go to
S7RC.

S7RC

*************DO NOT ASK THE
RESPONDENT**********************
Amount spent recorded as: (entry in S7O)
Is this entry correct?
<1>
<2>

S7COR

YES (GO TO SCKF)
NO (GO TO S7COR)

**************DO NOT ASK THE RESPONDENT*******************
Incorrect entry was recorded as:
Correct entry is:

(entry in S7O)

$_ _ _.00 (store entry in S7O)
SCKF

If any amounts 0 or over in S2O, S4O, S6O or S7O then add together and
store in SFDAMT. If any amounts 0 or over in S3O or S5O, then add these
together and store in SNFAMT. Subtract SNFAMT from SFDAMT and store the
result in S8O.

S8A

If (entry of D or R in S2, S4, S6, and S7) or (S8O equals 0) or (onpath
entry of <2>, , or in S1A, S1B, S1C and S1D) then fill first parenthetical
with first option else fill with second option.
If more than one HHMEM=1 has an AGE equal to or greater than 10 fill
remaining parentheticals with second option else fill with first.
If POOR= 1 fill last parenthetical with first option else fill with blank.
(Let's see, it seems that (you/your household) did not buy any food LAST
WEEK. /Let's see, (you/your household) spent about (fill with S8O) on food

Sept 2020 CPS-FSS Split Panel, page 47

LAST WEEK.) Now think about how much (you/anyone in your household)
USUALLY (spend/spends). How much (do you/does your household)
USUALLY spend on food at all the different places we've been talking about
IN A WEEK? (Please include any purchases made with or
food stamp benefits). Do not include non-food items such as pet food, paper
products, detergent or cleaning supplies.
Enter <1> for whole dollar amount
Enter <2> if respondent can only give range
Blind or
If entry is D or R store in S8OU
<1> GOTO S8
<2> GOTO S8CK1A
GOTO S9
S8

Enter whole dollar amount
$_ _ _.00
Store amount in S8OU
<0> GOTO S8ZA
<1-450> GOTO S8B
GOTO S8RC
GOTO S9

S8CK1A

**************DO NOT READ TO RESPONDENT *******************
Enter range reported by respondent
_ _ _.00
If entry is D or R, store in S8OU
<1-999> GOTO S8CK1B
GOTO S9

S8CK1B

Enter range reported by respondent
_ _ _.00
If entry is D or R, store in S8OU
<1-999> GOTO S8RG

Sept 2020 CPS-FSS Split Panel, page 48

GOTO S9
S8RG

Add the entries in S8CK1A and S8CK1B and divide by 2. Store the
answer in S8OU. If S8OU is between $1.00 and $450.00 go to S8B otherwise go
to S8RC.

S8ZA

If that is because you shop for food only once in awhile, how much
would you say you spend in total in a month?
NOTE: This question previously asked “If that is because you shop for food
infrequently, how much would the weekly average be over several weeks?”. The
previous version asked the respondent to determine the weekly average. The new
question asks the respondent how much they spend in a month. The survey
software instrument will then calculate the weekly average for the respondent.
Census will need to provide guidance on how this change should be reflected in
the interviewer instructions below. We still want to enter a weekly average in the
data even though the question now asks for a monthly average.
Enter <1> for whole dollar amount or if the amount really is zero
Enter <2> if respondent can only give range
Blind or
If entry is D or R store in S8OU
<1> GOTO S8Z
<2> GOTO S8ZCK1A
GOTO S9

S8Z

Enter whole dollar amount
$_ _ _.00
Store amount in S8OU NOTE: Divide by 4 before storing in S8OU (see note at
top of page 14)?
<0> GOTO S8RC
<1-450> GOTO S8B
GOTO S8RC

S8ZCK1A

**************DO NOT READ TO RESPONDENT *******************
Enter range reported by respondent
_ _ _.00
If entry is D or R, store in S8OU
<1-999> GOTO S8ZCK1B

Sept 2020 CPS-FSS Split Panel, page 49

GOTO S9
S8ZCK1B

Enter range reported by respondent
_ _ _.00
If entry is D or R, store in S8OU
<1-999> GOTO S8ZRG
GOTO S9

S8ZRG

Add the entries in S8ZCK1A and S8ZCK1B and divide by 2. Store the answer in
S8OU. NOTE: Divide by 4 before storing in S8OU (see note at top of page 14)?
If S8OU is between $1.00 and $450.00 go to S8B otherwise go to S8RC.

S8RC

*************DO NOT ASK THE
RESPONDENT********************
Amount spent recorded as: (entry in S8OU)
Is this entry correct?
<1>
<2>

S8COR

Yes (GO TO S8B)
No (GO TO S8COR)

*************DO NOT ASK THE RESPONDENT********************
Incorrect entry was recorded as: (entry in S8OU)
Correct entry is:
$ _ _ _ _.00

II. MINIMUM SPENDING NEED TO HAVE ENOUGH FOOD
S8B

If NUMHOU = 1 then fill parenthetical with first option else fill with second
option.
In order to buy just enough food to meet (your needs/the needs of your
household), would you need to spend more than you do now, or could you
spend less?
************************DO NOT READ************************
<1>
<2>
<3>

More (GO TO S8C)
Less (GO TO S8D)
Same (GO TO S9)

Sept 2020 CPS-FSS Split Panel, page 50

Blind or (GO TO S9)
S8C

About how much MORE would you need to spend each week to buy just
enough food to meet the needs of your household?
Enter whole dollar amount
Enter <0> if respondent can only give range
$_ _ _.00
Blind or
If entry is 1-999, D, or R store in S8CO
<0> GOTO S8CCKA
<1-999, D, R> GOTO S9

S8CCKA

**************DO NOT READ TO RESPONDENT *******************
Enter range reported by respondent
_ _ _.00
If entry is D or R, store in S8CO
<1-999> GOTO S8CCKB
GOTO S9

S8CCKB

Enter range reported by respondent
_ _ _.00
If entry is D or R, store in S8CO
<1-999> GOTO S8CRG
GOTO S9

S8CRG

Add the entries in S8CCKA and S8CCKB and divide by 2. Store the answer in
S8CO. GOTO S9.

S8D

About how much LESS could you spend each week and still buy enough food
to meet the needs of your household?
Enter whole dollar amount
Enter <0> if respondent can only give range

Sept 2020 CPS-FSS Split Panel, page 51

$_ _ _.00
Blind or
If entry is 1-999, D, or R store in S8DO
<0> GOTO S8DCKA
<1-999, D, R> GOTO S9
S8DCKA

**************DO NOT READ TO RESPONDENT *******************
Enter range reported by respondent
_ _ _.00
If entry is D or R, store in S8DO
<1-999> GOTO S8DCKB
GOTO S9

S8DCKB

Enter range reported by respondent
_ _ _.00
If entry is D or R, store in S8DO
<1-999> GOTO S8DRG
GOTO S9

S8DRG

Add the entries in S8DCKA and S8DCKB and divide by 2. Store the calculated
value in S8DO. GOTO S9.

Sept 2020 CPS-FSS Split Panel, page 52

III. FOOD SUFFICIENCY AND FOOD SECURITY
S9_Lead

The next questions are about the food eaten in your household in the last 12
months, since September of last year, and whether you were able to afford
the food you need.

S9

In the last 12 months, since September of last year, did you ever run
short of money and try to make your food or your food money go further?
<1> Yes (GO TO SS1)
<2 > No (GO TO SS1)
Blind or (GO TO SS1)
If NUMHOU = 1 then fill parenthetical with first option else fill with second
option.

SS1

Which of these statements best describes the food eaten in your
household-- enough of the kinds of food (I/ we) want to eat, enough but not
always the kinds of food (I/ we) want to eat, sometimes not enough to eat, or
often not enough to eat?
<1>
<2>
<3>
<4>

Enough of the kinds of food we want to eat
Enough but not always the kinds of food we want to eat
Sometimes not enough to eat
Often not enough to eat

Blind or
----------------------------------------------------SX1CK
If POOR=2 and (SS1= <1> or ) and (S9= <2> or ), then go to END OF
SUPPLEMENT else ask SS2
-----------------------------------------------------NOTE:
ADULT_COUNT=number of household members with AGE>=18 or
PURRP=1, 2, 3, 13, or 14
CHILD_COUNT=number of household members with AGE<=17 and
PURRP>=4 and PURRP not 13 or 14
-----------------------------------------------------SS2
If ADULT_COUNT=1 for the household then fill first option in
parenthetical else fill second option.
Now I'm going to read you several statements that people have made about
their food situation. For these statements, please tell me whether the

Sept 2020 CPS-FSS Split Panel, page 53

statement was OFTEN true, SOMETIMES true, or NEVER true for
(you/your household) in the last 12 months.
The first statement is "(I/We) worried whether (my/our) food would run out
before (I/we) got money to buy more." Was that OFTEN true,
SOMETIMES true, or NEVER true for (you/your household) in the last 12
months?
<1> Often true
<2> Sometimes true
<3> Never true (GO TO SS3)
Blind or (GO TO SS3)
SSM2

Did this ever happen in the last 30 days?
<1> Yes
<2> No
Blind or

SS3

"The food that (I/we) bought just didn't last, and (I/we) didn't have
money to get more." Was that OFTEN, SOMETIMES or NEVER true for
(you/ your household) in the last 12 months?
<1> Often true
<2> Sometimes true
<3> Never true (GO TO SS4)
Blind or (GO TO SS4)

SSM3

Did this ever happen in the last 30 days?
<1> Yes
<2> No
Blind or

SS4

"(I/we) couldn't afford to eat balanced meals." Was that OFTEN,
SOMETIMES or NEVER true for (you/ your household) in the last 12
months?
<1> Often true (GO TO SSM4)
<2> Sometimes true (GO TO SSM4)
<3> Never true (GO TO SX2CK)

Sept 2020 CPS-FSS Split Panel, page 54

Blind or (GO TO SX2CK)
SSM4

Did this ever happen in the last 30 days?
<1> Yes
<2> No
Blind

-----------------------------------------------------------SX2CK
If SS1 = <3> or <4> OR SS2 = <1> or <2> OR SS3 = <1> or <2> OR SS4 =
<1> or <2> then go to SH2
else go to SX4CK.
-----------------------------------------------------------SH2

If ADULT_COUNT=1 for the household then fill first option in
parenthetical else fill second option.
In the last 12 months, did (you/ you or other adults in your household) ever
cut the size of your meals or skip meals because there wasn't enough money
for food?
<1> Yes
<2> No (GO TO SH3)
Blind or (GO TO SH3)

SHF2

How often did this happen--almost every month, some months but not every
month, or in only 1 or 2 months?
<1> Almost every month
<2> Some months but not every month
<3> Only 1 or 2 months
Blind or

SHM2

If ADULT_COUNT=1 for the household then fill first option in
parenthetical else fill second option.
Now think about the last 30 days. During that time did (you/ you or other
adults in your household) ever cut the size of your meals or skip meals
because there wasn't enough money for food?
<1> Yes

Sept 2020 CPS-FSS Split Panel, page 55

<2> No (GO TO SH3)
Blind or (GO TO SH3)
SHMF2

How many days did this happen in the last 30 days?
______number of days (GO TO SH3)
<1-30>
Blind or (GO TO SH3)

SH3

In the last 12 months, did you ever eat less than you felt you should
because there wasn't enough money for food?
<1> Yes
<2> No (GO TO SH4)
Blind or (GO TO SH4)

SHF3

How often did this happen-almost every month, some months but not
every month, or in only 1 or 2 months?
<1> Almost every month
<2> Some months but not every month
<3> Only 1 or 2 months
Blind or

SHM3

Did this happen in the last 30 days?
<1> Yes
<2> No (GO TO SH4)
Blind or (GO TO SH4)

SHMF3

In the last 30 days, how many days did you eat less than you felt you should
because there wasn't enough money for food?
______ number of days
<1-30>
Blind or

SH4

In the last 12 months, were you ever hungry but didn't eat because
there wasn't enough money for food?

Sept 2020 CPS-FSS Split Panel, page 56

<1> Yes
<2> No (GO TO SH5)
Blind or (GO TO SH5)
SHF4

How often did this happen--almost every month, some months but not
every month, or in only 1 or 2 months?
<1> Almost every month
<2> Some months but not every month
<3> Only 1 or 2 months
Blind or

SHM4

Did this happen in the last 30 days?
<1>Yes
<2> No (GO TO SH5)
Blind or (GO TO SH5)

SHMF4

In the last 30 days, how many days were you hungry but didn't eat because
there wasn't enough money for food?
_____ number of days
<1-30>
Blind or

SH5

In the last 12 months, did you lose weight because there wasn't
enough money for food?
<1> Yes
<2> No (GO TO SX3CK)
Blind or (GO TO SX3CK)

SHM5

Did this happen in the last 30 days?
<1> Yes
<2> No
Blind or

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Sept 2020 CPS-FSS Split Panel, page 57

SX3CK

If SH2=<1> OR SH3=<1> OR SH4=<1> OR SH5=<1> then continue to SSH1
else skip to SX4CK
----------------------------------------------------------------SSH1

If ADULT_COUNT=1 for the household then fill first option in
parenthetical else fill second option.
In the last 12 months, did (you/you or other adults in your household) ever
not eat for a whole day because there wasn't enough money for food?
<1> Yes
<2> No (GO TO SX4CK)
Blind or (GO TO SX4CK)

SSHF1

How often did this happen--almost every month, some months but not every
month, or in only 1 or 2 months?
<1> Almost every month
<2> Some months but not every month
<3> Only 1 or 2 months
Blind or

SSHM1

If ADULT_COUNT=1 for the household then fill first option in parenthetical else
fill second option.
Now think about the last 30 days. During that time did (you/ you or other
adults in your household) ever not eat for a whole day because there wasn't
enough money for food?
<1> Yes
<2> No (GO TO SX4CK)
Blind or (GO TO SX4CK)

SSHMF1

How many times did this happen in the last 30 days?
______ times
<1-30>
Blind or

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Sept 2020 CPS-FSS Split Panel, page 58

SX4CK

If CHILD_COUNT is greater than or equal to 1 in household go to SS5 else skip
to SP1.
------------------------------------------------------------SS5_LEAD

Now I'm going to read you several statements that people have made about
the food situation of their children. For these statements, please tell me
whether the statement was OFTEN true, SOMETIMES true, or NEVER true
in the last 12 months for any child under 18 years old living in the household.

SS5

If ADULT_COUNT=1 for the household fill first, third, fourth and fifth
parenthetical with first option else fill with second option.
If CHILD_COUNT=1 then fill second parenthetical with first option else fill
with second option.
"(I/we) relied on only a few kinds of low-cost food to feed (the child in
(my/our) household/the children) because (I was/we were) running out of
money to buy food. Was that OFTEN, SOMETIMES or NEVER true for
(you/ your household) in the last 12 months?
<1> Often true
<2> Sometimes true
<3> Never true (GO TO SS6)
Blind or (GO TO SS6)

SSM5

Did this ever happen in the last 30 days?
<1> Yes
<2> No
Blind or

SS6

If ADULT_COUNT=1 fill first, third, fourth and fifth parenthetical with
first option else fill with second option.
If CHILD_COUNT=1 then fill second parenthetical with first option else fill with
second option.
"(I/we) couldn't feed (the child in (my/our) household/the children) a
balanced meal, because (I/we) couldn't afford that." Was that OFTEN,
SOMETIMES or NEVER true for (you/your household) in the last 12
months?
<1> Often true (GO TO SSM6)

Sept 2020 CPS-FSS Split Panel, page 59

<2> Sometimes true (GO TO SSM6)
<3> Never true (GO TO SH1)
Blind or (GO TO SH1)
SSM6

Did this ever happen in the last 30 days?
<1> Yes
<2> No
Blind or

SH1

If ADULT_COUNT=1 then fill second, third, and fourth parenthetical
with first option else fill with second option.
If CHILD_COUNT=1 then fill first parenthetical with first option else fill with
second option.
"(The child in (my/our) household was/The children were) not eating enough
because there wasn’t enough money for food." Was that OFTEN,
SOMETIMES or NEVER true for (you/ your household) in the last 12
months?
<1> Often true
<2> Sometimes true
<3> Never true (GO TO SX5CK)
Blind or (GO TO SX5CK)

SHM1

Did this ever happen in the last 30 days?
<1> Yes
<2> No
Blind or

-----------------------------------------------------------SX5CK
If SS5 = <1> or <2> OR SS6 = <1> or <2> OR SH1 = <1> or <2> go to SSH2
else skip to SP1.
-----------------------------------------------------------SSH2

option.

If CHILD_COUNT=1 then fill with first option else fill with second

In the last 12 months, did you ever cut the size of

Sept 2020 CPS-FSS Split Panel, page 60

(the child's/any of the children's) meals because there wasn't enough money
for food?
<1> Yes
<2> No (GO TO SSH3)
Blind or (GO TO SSH3)
SSHF2

How often did this happen - almost every month, some months but not every
month, or in only 1 or 2 months?
<1>
<2>
<3>

Almost every month
Some months but not every month
Only 1 or 2 months

Blind or
SSHM2

Did this happen in the last 30 days?
<1> Yes
<2> No (GO TO SSH3)
Blind or (GO TO SSH3)

SSHMF2

If CHILD_COUNT=1 then fill with first option else fill with second option.
In the last 30 days, how many days did you cut the size of (the child's/any of
the children's) meals because there wasn't enough money for food?
______days
<1-30>
Blind or

SSH3

option.

If CHILD_COUNT=1 then fill with first option else fill with second

In the last 12 months, (was the child/were the children) ever hungry because
there wasn’t enough money for food?
<1> Yes
<2> No (GO TO SSH4)
Blind or (GO TO SSH4)

Sept 2020 CPS-FSS Split Panel, page 61

SSHF3

How often did this happen – almost every month, some months but not every
month, or in only 1 or 2 months?
<1> Almost every month
<2> Some months but not every month
<3> Only 1 or 2 months
Blind or

SSHM3

Did this happen in the last 30 days?
<1> Yes
<2> No (GO TO SSH4)
Blind or (GO TO SSH4)

SSHMF3

If CHILD_COUNT=1 then fill with first option else fill with second option.
In the last 30 days, how many days (was the child/were the children) hungry
because there wasn’t enough money for food?
______ number of days
<1-30>
Blind or

SSH4

If CHILD_COUNT=1 then fill with first option else fill with second option.
In the last 12 months, did (the child/ any of the children) ever skip a meal
because there wasn't enough money for food?
<1> Yes
<2> No (GO TO SSH5)
Blind or (GO TO SSH5)

SSHF4

How often did this happen--almost every month, some months but not every
month, or in only 1 or 2 months?
<1> Almost every month
<2> Some months but not every month
<3> Only 1 or 2 months
Blind or

SSHM4

If CHILD_COUNT=1 then fill with first option else fill with second option.

Sept 2020 CPS-FSS Split Panel, page 62

Now think about the last 30 days. Did (the child/any of the children) ever
skip a meal during that time because there wasn't enough money for food?
<1> Yes
<2> No (GO TO SSH5)
Blind or (GO TO SSH5)
SSHMF4

How many days did this happen in the last 30 days?
______days
<1-30>
Blind or

SSH5

option.

If CHILD_COUNT=1 then fill with first option else fill with second

In the last 12 months, did (the child/any of the children) ever not eat for a
whole day because there wasn't enough money for food?
<1> Yes
<2> No (GO TO SP1)
Blind or (GO TO SP1)
SSHM5

Did this happen in the last 30 days?
<1> Yes
<2> No
Blind or
All responses go to SP1

IV. FOOD PROGRAM PARTICIPATION
SP1_LEAD
SP1

Sometimes people need help getting food for their household. There are
many programs that can help.
If hhnum=1 fill with first option else fill with second.
In the past 12 months, since September of last year, did (you/anyone in this
household) get or food stamp benefits?

Sept 2020 CPS-FSS Split Panel, page 63

<1> Yes (GO TO SP2)
<2> No (GO TO SP6CK)
Blind or (GO TO SP6CK)
NOTE: Since the test interview will be in September, it will change how months of SNAP receipt
and receipt within 30 days of interview are asked about. SP2 and SP2DCK and SP2D below may
need more revision.
SP2

In which months since September of last year were
or food stamp benefits received?
DO NOT READ LIST. MARK ALL THAT APPLY
<1> January 2020
<2> February 2020
<3> March 2020
<4> April 2020
<5> May 2020
<6> June 2020
<7> July 2020
<8> August 2020
<9> September 2020
<10> October 2019
<11> November 2019
<12> December 2019
<13> All

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------SP2DCK
If SP2 = 8 AND ≠ 9 AND ≠ 13 go to SP2D else go to SP3
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------SP2D

If hhnum = 1 fill with first option else fill with second.
On what date in August did (you/your household) receive
or food stamp benefits?
SP2D
Blind or

SP3

Day______
<1-31>

If hhnum=1 fill with first option else fill with second.
How much did (you/your household) receive the last time you got
or food stamp benefits?

Sept 2020 CPS-FSS Split Panel, page 64

$ _ _ _ .00
Blind or
------------------------------------------------------------SP3CK
Store entry in SP3O. If SP3O is between $1.00 and $700.00 go to SP6CK
otherwise go to SP3RC.
------------------------------------------------------------SP3RC

*************DO NOT ASK THE RESPONDENT*************
AMOUNT RECEIVED RECORDED AS: (entry in SP3O)
IS THIS ENTRY CORRECT?
<1> YES (GO TO SP6CK)
<2> NO (GO TO SP3COR)

SP3COR

**********DO NOT ASK THE RESPONDENT************
INCORRECT ENTRY WAS RECORDED AS: (entry in SP3O) CORRECT
ENTRY IS:
$_ _ _.00 (store entry in SP3O)
Items SP3 through SP3COR go into making the out variable SP3O. This is the
amount received in food stamp benefits.

------------------------------------------------------------SP6CK
If HHMEM=1 and AGE is 5 THROUGH 18 for anyone in the household ask SP6
else skip to SP7ACK.
------------------------------------------------------------SP6

If 1 or more children under 5 years old, fill parenthetical, else fill blank.
During the past 30 days, did any children in the household
(between 5 and 18 years old) receive free or reduced-price lunches at school?
<1> Yes
<2> No (GO TO SP7ACK)
Blind or (GO TO SP7ACK)

SP7

If 1 or more children under 5 years old, fill parenthetical, else fill blank.

Sept 2020 CPS-FSS Split Panel, page 65

During the past 30 days, did any children in the household (between 5 and 18
years old) receive free or reduced-price breakfasts at school?
<1> Yes
<2> No
Blind or
NEW 1

If 1 or more children under 5 years old, fill parenthetical, else fill blank.
During the past 30 days, did any children in the household (between 5 and 18
years old) receive a free or reduced-price meal or snack at an after school
program?
<1> Yes
<2> No
Blind or

Note: Question “NEW 1” is a newly added question. It does not replace any previous item.
----------------------------------------------------------SP7ACK
If HHMEM=1 and AGE is 0-6 for anyone in the household ask SP7A
else skip to SP8CK.
----------------------------------------------------------SP7A

If only 1 child under age 6 fill with first option else fill with second option
During the past 30 days, did any children in the household (under 6 years
old) receive free or reduced-price food at a day-care or Head Start program?
<1> Yes
<2> No
Blind or

------------------------------------------------------------SP8CK
If [(SEX=2 and AGE = 15-45) OR (AGE 0-4)] and HHMEM=1 for anyone in the
household then ask SP8 else skip to “NEW 2”.
------------------------------------------------------------SP8

If [(SEX=2 and AGE=15-45) for any hh member and (AGE=0-4) for any
hh member] then fill second option else if
(SEX=2 and AGE=15-45) for any hh member and (no AGE=0-4) for any hh
member then fill first option else fill third option.

Sept 2020 CPS-FSS Split Panel, page 66

During the past 30 days, did any (women/women or children/children) in this
household get food through the WIC program?
<1> Yes
<2> No (GO TO “NEW 2”)
Blind or (GO TO “NEW 2”)
SP9

If [(SEX=2 and AGE=15-45) for any hh member and (AGE=0-4) for any
hh member] then fill second option else if
(SEX=2 and AGE=15-45) for any hh member and (no AGE=0-4) for any
hh member then fill first option else fill third option.
How many (women/women or children/children) in the household got WIC
foods?
Number ______
Blind or Yes
<2> No
Blind or

SC2

If more than one person in household fill with second option, else fill with first
option.
During the past 30 days, did (you/anyone in this household) go to a
community program or senior center to eat prepared meals?
<1> Yes
<2> No

Blind or
NOTE: Items SC1 and SC2 will be deleted. These questions are incorporated into “NEW 3”
below.
For items “NEW 2” and “NEW 3”, if only 1 HHMEM = 1 and (AGE>=18 or PURRP <=3) in
household then fill first parenthetical with first option else fill with second option.
NEW 2

(Replaces SC3) In the last 12 months, did (you/you or anyone in your
household) ever get free groceries from a food pantry, food bank, church, or
other place that helps with free food? [NOTE: may revise parenthetical to
“you or any other adults”]
<1> Yes
<2> No (GO TO SC3A)
Blind or (GO TO SC4)

SCF3

How often did this happen-almost every month, some months but not every

Sept 2020 CPS-FSS Split Panel, page 68

month, or in only 1 or 2 months?
<1> Almost every month
<2> Some months but not every month
<3> Only 1 or 2 months
Blind or
SCM3

Did this happen in the last 30 days?
<1> Yes (GO TO SC4)
<2> No (GO TO SC4)

SC3A

Is there a food pantry, food bank, church, or other place in your
community where you could get free groceries if you needed it?
<1> Yes
<2> No
Blind or

NEW 3

(Replaces SC4) In the last 12 months, have (you/you or anyone in your
household) received a free meal from a church, shelter, home-delivered meal
service like Meals on Wheels, or other place that helps with free meals?
<1>Yes
<2> No (GO TO NEW 4)
Blind or (GO TO NEW 4)

SCF4

How often did this happen-almost every month, some months but not every
month, or in only 1 or 2 months?
<1> Almost every month
<2> Some months but not every month
<3> Only 1 or 2 months
Blind or

SCM4

Did this happen in the last 30 days?
<1> Yes
<2> No
Blind or

Sept 2020 CPS-FSS Split Panel, page 69

NEW 4

Is there a church, shelter, home-delivery meal service like meals on Wheels,
or other place in your community where you could get free meals if you
needed it?
<1> Yes
<2> No
Blind or

NOTE: “NEW 4” is a newly added item. It does not replace any previous items.
SSPCK1 (Interviewer query, do not read)
Did you use the Spanish language version for none, some, or all of the
questions about having adequate food?
<1> None
<2> Some
<3> All
*****END OF SUPPLEMENT*****