SIPP_Attachment_G_Brochure_Families_2023

Why Does the SIPP
Ask About Families?

Why Ask About Fertility?
Researchers and policymakers use fertility
information from the SIPP to study resource
sharing, the eligibility for and use of
programs such as WIC, and differences in
fertility patterns across groups. The SIPP is
the only Census Bureau survey to collect full
fertility histories from both women and men.

Over 85% of mothers, but only 72% of
fathers, live with all of their biological
children under the age of 18
8.5%
5.2%

19.9%

Live with
NONE of
their children

7.9%

Live with
SOME of
their children
Live with
ALL of
their children

Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP)

How the Census Bureau
Protects Your Family’s
Information.
The U.S. Census Bureau is required by federal
law to protect the information you provide.
All personally identifiable information about
your household is removed during processing,
so that the information you provide can be
used to inform policies and programs without
compromising your right to privacy.

Children aged 6-17 living with one sibling
play an extracurricular sport in higher
proportions than those living with more
siblings
44.0%
39.1%

39.4%

34.0%

Mission and Purpose

24.3%

Data from the Survey of Income and Program
Participation (SIPP) are used to evaluate:

86.3%
72.2%

• Changes in income.
• Movement into and out of government
assistance programs.

• Changes in family composition and social

conditions for individuals and households.

• Changes in health, health insurance
Mothers

The SIPP collects detailed information on
families that can help in the development
of tools, programs, and policies focused on
family and child well-being.

Fathers

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Survey of Income and
Program Participation Public Use File.

coverage, and access to health care for
people and families.

More information on the SIPP can be found at
.

Issued September 2022
Connect with us
@uscensusbureau

No
siblings

1
sibling

2
siblings

3
siblings

4
or more
siblings

Number of siblings
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Survey of Income and
Program Participation Public Use File.

Why Collect Data on Who Lives Together?
Older adults (65 years and
older) living...

Alone
(29.7%)

With other
relatives
(11.5%)

Researchers and
policymakers use data
on older adults living
alone to develop and
study the effectiveness
of programs such as
Meals on Wheels that
are designed to allow
older adults to continue
living independently.

With
nonrelatives
only
(3.8%)

With spouse
(55.0%)

Note: Percentages may not add to 100 due to rounding.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Survey of Income and
Program Participation Public Use File.

Adults (18–64 years)
living...

Children (0–17 years)
living...
With
nonrelatives only
(0.7%)

Alone
(13.0%)

With other
relatives or
nonrelatives
only
(28.7%)

With children
and no
spouse
(10.7%)

Policymakers use SIPP
data on food stamps/
SNAP benefits use to
evaluate the program.

Researchers and
policymakers use data
on families to evaluate
and design programs
like TANF to help
struggling families
achieve self-sufficiency
by supporting job
preparation, work,
and marriage among
parents.

With one
parent
(25.3%)

With
grandparents or
other relatives
(3.8%)
Families in which
grandparents are raising
grandchildren often
need unique support.

Researchers and
policymakers use
data on single-parent
households to study
issues of poverty,
housing access, afterschool programs, and
childcare.
With both
parents
(70.2%)

With spouse
and others
(47.6%)

Statistics from surveys are subject to sampling and nonsampling error. For further information on the source of the data and
accuracy of the estimates, including standard errors and confidence intervals, see