Mail Back the Form to Avoid a Census Worker Visit
Austin TX - Friday April 16th is the final day to mail in the 2010 Census questionnaire. Households that have not submitted the form by Friday will be visited by a census worker starting May 1st. The US Census Bureau has created a toll free number (1-866-872-6868) for consumers who did not receive a questionnaire to request one be mailed or to respond to the questions via phone.
Only 62 percent of Texans have returned their census forms so far" said Carrie A. Hurt President and CEO of BBB serving Central Coastal and Southwest Texas. 10 minutes of your time can ensure your community is accurately represented in the state and federal government."
Approximately 700000 census workers will begin visiting homes door-to-door from May 1 2010 until July 10 2010. BBB offers the following reminders for consumers who may be visited by a census employee:
- Know how to identify a census worker. Door-to-door census workers will have an official badge a shoulder bag and a confidentiality document. They will assist consumers in filling out their form by asking the same questions that appear on the questionnaire. A census worker will not ask for social security bank account or credit card numbers and will not solicit donations. Consumers are encouraged to contact the police if someone knocks on their door impersonating a census worker.
- Your answers impact Texas. The information the census collects helps determine how more than $400 billion dollars of annual federal funding is spent on services that go to benefit the public including hospitals job training centers schools bridges and roads. Additionally census information affects the numbers of seats a state occupies in the U.S. House of Representatives.
- Information is confidential. By federal law the Census Bureau cannot share a residents answers with anyone including the IRS FBI CIA INS or any other government agency. All Census Bureau employees take an oath of nondisclosure and are sworn for life to protect the confidentiality of the data. The penalty for unlawful disclosure is a fine of up to $250000 and/or imprisonment of up to five years.
For more information about the 2010 US Census visit
www.2010census.gov and to find a trustworthy business visit BBB.
