Community Chat

[NickNack]

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@gabstoomuch wrote:

@NickNackIf you did it online, take whatever you are getting in the mail today and staple a note to it writing "done online, and the date" (if you remember it) and mail it back to them in the return envelope.

Could be a computer glitch, seeing that they were sent out just as the pandemic was coming into focus. Many people were just getting panicked about what was going on in the world and the Census was the last thing on their mind.  I am sure that department is a mess by now, between workers not working, or working from home, maybe your online response just didn't get checked as completed.

Whatever, the problem is on their end. You did it, they will check their computers and figure it out. If your online info did not get all the way through to the end, they will contact you and ask you to redo it. But as someone above said, beware of scam forms. I would not do it any other way than online on their secure website.

At least if you return it with "done" written on it they will stop sending mail until they figure you out.

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@gabstoomuch  and everyone, it was the exact same thing as the first two census surveys they sent.  It gave me a number and asked me to fill it out online, which is what I did the first time it was sent.  There wasn't an option of filling it out and mailing it back to them.

It said to just disregard if I'd already filled out it.  I've already shredded it.

[Marp]

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@Icegoddess wrote:

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@Marp wrote:

@noodleann,  it has been many years (15+/-) since I filled out a community census form but what you listed sounds very much like the information required way back then.

I see valid reasons for most of the questions.  The information is aggragated to determine the type of services that are more important for the community and which are less likely to be needed.  For example, if you live in a senior community the need for additional schools or  more roads would be less important than a new hospital.

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But, most of that is decided at the local or state level.  I know our number of hospitals is decided on the state level according to what they determine the need is down to the number of beds.  A hospital cannot add on, say, a maternity unit unless the state says they can.  

Schools, roads, all that is determined at the local level and based on whether they have the money to do it (aka raise your taxes).  The state does divy out money for road upgrades and most of that work is planned years in advance and still we have to fight for it.

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@Icegoddess,  do you think all those things are locally funded?  States are dependent on federal funding which relies on data from the census.

This analysis examines the current distribution of funds,and includes those federal programs using Census Bureau data to distribute funds, in one of three ways:

Selection and/or restriction of recipients of funds.Programs use Census Bureau data to define either the characteristics of populations served by the program or the characteristics of governments and organizations eligible to receive funds to provide those services.

Award or allocation of funds. Programs use Census Bureau datato determine the funds distributed to eligible recipients and providers.

Monitoring and assessment of program performance. Programs use Census Bureau data to ensure programs function as designed, to encourage and award effective administration of programs, and to explore alternative methods of funds distribution.

Table 1 shows the fiscal year 2015 funds distributed using Census Bureau data.

Excerpt from:  https://2020census.gov/content/dam/2020census/materials/partners/2020-01/Uses-of-Census-Bureau-Data-...

[Icegoddess]

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@Marp wrote:

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@Icegoddess wrote:

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@Marp wrote:

@noodleann,  it has been many years (15+/-) since I filled out a community census form but what you listed sounds very much like the information required way back then.

I see valid reasons for most of the questions.  The information is aggragated to determine the type of services that are more important for the community and which are less likely to be needed.  For example, if you live in a senior community the need for additional schools or  more roads would be less important than a new hospital.

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But, most of that is decided at the local or state level.  I know our number of hospitals is decided on the state level according to what they determine the need is down to the number of beds.  A hospital cannot add on, say, a maternity unit unless the state says they can.  

Schools, roads, all that is determined at the local level and based on whether they have the money to do it (aka raise your taxes).  The state does divy out money for road upgrades and most of that work is planned years in advance and still we have to fight for it.

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@Icegoddess,  do you think all those things are locally funded?  States are dependent on federal funding which relies on data from the census.

This analysis examines the current distribution of funds,and includes those federal programs using Census Bureau data to distribute funds, in one of three ways:

Selection and/or restriction of recipients of funds.Programs use Census Bureau data to define either the characteristics of populations served by the program or the characteristics of governments and organizations eligible to receive funds to provide those services.

Award or allocation of funds. Programs use Census Bureau datato determine the funds distributed to eligible recipients and providers.

Monitoring and assessment of program performance. Programs use Census Bureau data to ensure programs function as designed, to encourage and award effective administration of programs, and to explore alternative methods of funds distribution.

Table 1 shows the fiscal year 2015 funds distributed using Census Bureau data.

Excerpt from:  https://2020census.gov/content/dam/2020census/materials/partners/2020-01/Uses-of-Census-Bureau-Data-...

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@Marp I know the states get the money from the Federal government, but the Federal government only generally earmarks funds, not specifically.  The states and local governments decide where those funds are spent.  So, the Federal government really doesn't need all that info.  A lot of that actually gets determined by who is greasing the right person's hands at the time.

[sunshine45]

i did mine online and saved the card and wrote down my confirmation number on it.

i received numerous other pieces of snail mail after that.

i also received three follow up phone calls. when they finally got me on the third try, they wanted me to verify/confirm one of my answers.

[Porcelain]

I filled ours out right away online. Still got a few mailed reminders afterwards. I ignored them since I'd already answered. The materials specifically stated that you may receive another reminder notice and to ignore it.

If you know you filled it out, you're good. They won't let you answer twice. The census is tied to your address and personal info.

[Toppers3]

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@NickNack wrote:

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@Nuttmeg wrote:

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@NickNack wrote:

When I got my Census form a couple of months ago I filled it out online immediately.  In a few weeks I got another form in the mail, and now today (according to my "informed delivery" email from the post office) I'm getting another one.  It says "required by law" in bold letters.

Do they just keep sending them out?  Do they think I haven't filled it out?  

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@NickNack

The census does a survey. I received a number of extra mailing one time. You can find information online with a search about a census survey. 

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@Nuttmeg   I understand what a Census is.  I said that I filled it out online immediately upon receiving it.  I know it's important.  I just don't know why they apparently don't know that I've already filled it out.  I've gotten two additional surveys.

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Sometimes they'll send out a Community Survey for us to fill out, in addition to the shorter form that most of us usually get to fill out.

The shorter form is usually pretty quick to fill out in my opinion, and doesn't take much time to fill out.

The Community Survey is a much longer form, and asks more questions in more detail.

If I recall, it asks questions about your work commute, and things like that.

We have received that form a few times, and have filled it out each time that it has come in the mail to us.

So, it is entirely possible that you could receive more than one Census form in the mail, as you might receive the Community Survey form to fill out, too. 

It's also possible that you might receive this form at a different time than the regular Census form. That has happened with us, where it might show up so many months later, for example.

[SXMGirl]

I filled mine out online as soon as it came in the mail.  I made sure to print and keep a copy, and I have heard nothing since.  Of course, there is always tomorrow.

[jackthebear]

I will throw in this comment

there is some kind of additional push to get all the census data counted now,  could it be as the submission date came during the height of CV? here in NJ it did

so I am seeing "get out the census" pushes here.