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Florissant woman threatened with $5k fine for not filling out census survey

She would've treated the survey like any other piece of prying junk mail, but this one came with a strong warning.
Credit: Clancy, Samuel

FLORISSANT, Mo. — The official census doesn't start for another two years, but a Florissant woman said she's being pressured to give up private financial details to the government in a different type of survey.

And the I-Team found ignoring this survey could cost you thousands of dollars in fines.

"Last month, what was the cost of your gas bill?" Dolores Seals read from the survey. "Did you get a high school diploma?"

These are the prying questions Seals, 83, doesn't want to answer.

Seals has lived in her Florissant home for 61 years. Three weeks ago she received the American Community Survey from the US census bureau. It's sent out randomly to approximately 1 in 38 households across the country.

"They probably already know all this," she said.

She would've treated the survey like any other piece of prying junk mail, but this one came with a strong warning.

"They demand I answer it. And they're going to fine me if I don't," Seals said.

The I-Team found that threat is real. You are required by law to fill out the survey if you receive it.

If you don't, you could be fined up to $5,000.

"How does my birthday with the day and the month and the year help my community? What does that do?" Seals asked.

According to the Census Bureau, your answers can help the government decide how to distribute hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funds.

Concerned about sharing information about her social security benefits, Seals is still struggling with whether to complete the survey or risk a fine.

"I'm just stressed that they can demand that," said Seals.

From 1970 to 2014, the I-Team found the Census Bureau didn't fine anyone for failing to complete the survey. It's unclear if anyone has been fined since 2014.

Danel Velez with the US Census Bureau said the survey has the best intentions.

"...The American Community Survey is important and safe. It gives community leaders, businesses and public officials the information they need in a comprehensive and consistent way — while protecting respondent privacy and keeping answers confidential." said Velez.

Upwards of three million people are asked to fill out the American Community Survey every year.

The census bureau said people are required to respond to census surveys, just like people are required to respond to jury duty.

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