Household Income and Expenditure Survey 2005
Micronesia, Fed. Sts., 2005
Created on
Jul 10, 2013
Last modified
Mar 29, 2019
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Social Security income (social_security)
Data file: Person
Overview
Valid:
0
Invalid:
0
Type:
Continuous
Decimal:
0
Start:
274
End:
279
Width:
6
Range:
-
Format:
Questions and instructions
Question pretext
26 The following questions are about income received during 2004. If an exact amount is not known, accept a best estimate. Report dollar amounts ONLY; do not report cents - if cents are reported, round to the nearest dollar amount.
Literal question
26g How much did ... receive in Social Security?
Interviewer instructions
GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR INCOME QUESTIONS 26 TO 27
1. CONVERT TO ANNUAL TOTAL
Be sure that the dollar amounts represent the total amount received during the 12 months of 2004 for the particular type of income. If, for example, the amount is given in terms of a weekly or monthly payment, find out how many weeks or months it was received in 2004 and convert it to an annual total.
2. USE OF INCOME TAX FORM
Accept answers from an income tax form if the person offers them. Do not, however, ask the respondent to refer to income tax forms.
If an income tax form is used, make certain the amounts you enter for each person are for that person only; many income tax returns show the combined income of husband and wife. Also remind the respondent that certain types of income are not taxable (for example, unemployment compensation and public assistance). Ask whether the person received any such additional money income in 2004.
If Form 1040 contains the combined income of husband and wife, find out what share was received by each person.
3. WHAT TO DO IF A RESPONDENT IS UNWILLING TO ANSWER INCOME QUESTIONS
a. Stress Confidentiality
If the respondent fears that the income data will be disclosed to other persons or to other government agencies, explain that you, as well as other census employees, are sworn to keep the answers confidential. The law provides penalties of imprisonment and fine for disclosures. Not even agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) or the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) can look at census records. Explain that data about individuals are never published; only statistical summaries of groups of people are published and only in a way that no individual can be identified.
b. Explain Why Tax Returns Alone Are Not Enough
If the respondent does not understand why the data cannot be obtained from income tax returns instead of being asked in the census, explain that the income data given on tax returns cannot be used to meet all statistical needs because not all people file returns and not all kinds of income are taxable (and hence are not reported on tax returns).
Also, the tax returns do not show age, family relationship, education, and other items needed to study the social and economic status of the people of FSM.
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1. Include as Social Security, payments by the Federal government made under retirement, survivors, and disability insurance programs to retired persons, to dependents of deceased insured workers, or to disabled workers.
2. Some persons receiving Social Security checks will have already had the premiums for Medicare (health insurance) deducted from their checks. You should count the amount of these deducted health insurance premiums as income. During 1994 these deductions amounted to $31.90 per month per person. Include deductions for children and other household members who were also covered by Medicare, but do not receive Social Security checks.
3. If Social Security payments were increased in early 1990, be sure that the Social Security entry reflects the total amount of the previous monthly payments received during the calendar year 1994.
4. Include also in question 26g retirement, disability, and survivor benefit payments made under the Railroad Retirement Act. These payments are received in the form of checks from the U.S. Government.
a. Married couples receiving joint check - Most married couples receiving Social Security or Railroad Retirement receive a joint amount in a single check. If the respondent can tell you how much is for each member, report these amounts separately for husband and wife. If not, report the total amount on the husband's page, and write "0" in question 26g on the wife's page.
b. Benefit checks for children If the person reports that he/she is receiving two Social Security checks, one for himself/herself and one for his/her children, follow the procedures outlined below:
(1) If the individual amounts allotted to each child are unknown, include the total amount for the person to whom the check is made out.
(2) If the individual amounts allotted to each person are known, enter these amounts on the appropriate page for each person 15 years old and over. Include any amounts for persons under 15 years old with the amount for the person to whom the check is made out.
1. CONVERT TO ANNUAL TOTAL
Be sure that the dollar amounts represent the total amount received during the 12 months of 2004 for the particular type of income. If, for example, the amount is given in terms of a weekly or monthly payment, find out how many weeks or months it was received in 2004 and convert it to an annual total.
2. USE OF INCOME TAX FORM
Accept answers from an income tax form if the person offers them. Do not, however, ask the respondent to refer to income tax forms.
If an income tax form is used, make certain the amounts you enter for each person are for that person only; many income tax returns show the combined income of husband and wife. Also remind the respondent that certain types of income are not taxable (for example, unemployment compensation and public assistance). Ask whether the person received any such additional money income in 2004.
If Form 1040 contains the combined income of husband and wife, find out what share was received by each person.
3. WHAT TO DO IF A RESPONDENT IS UNWILLING TO ANSWER INCOME QUESTIONS
a. Stress Confidentiality
If the respondent fears that the income data will be disclosed to other persons or to other government agencies, explain that you, as well as other census employees, are sworn to keep the answers confidential. The law provides penalties of imprisonment and fine for disclosures. Not even agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) or the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) can look at census records. Explain that data about individuals are never published; only statistical summaries of groups of people are published and only in a way that no individual can be identified.
b. Explain Why Tax Returns Alone Are Not Enough
If the respondent does not understand why the data cannot be obtained from income tax returns instead of being asked in the census, explain that the income data given on tax returns cannot be used to meet all statistical needs because not all people file returns and not all kinds of income are taxable (and hence are not reported on tax returns).
Also, the tax returns do not show age, family relationship, education, and other items needed to study the social and economic status of the people of FSM.
-----------------------------------------------------
1. Include as Social Security, payments by the Federal government made under retirement, survivors, and disability insurance programs to retired persons, to dependents of deceased insured workers, or to disabled workers.
2. Some persons receiving Social Security checks will have already had the premiums for Medicare (health insurance) deducted from their checks. You should count the amount of these deducted health insurance premiums as income. During 1994 these deductions amounted to $31.90 per month per person. Include deductions for children and other household members who were also covered by Medicare, but do not receive Social Security checks.
3. If Social Security payments were increased in early 1990, be sure that the Social Security entry reflects the total amount of the previous monthly payments received during the calendar year 1994.
4. Include also in question 26g retirement, disability, and survivor benefit payments made under the Railroad Retirement Act. These payments are received in the form of checks from the U.S. Government.
a. Married couples receiving joint check - Most married couples receiving Social Security or Railroad Retirement receive a joint amount in a single check. If the respondent can tell you how much is for each member, report these amounts separately for husband and wife. If not, report the total amount on the husband's page, and write "0" in question 26g on the wife's page.
b. Benefit checks for children If the person reports that he/she is receiving two Social Security checks, one for himself/herself and one for his/her children, follow the procedures outlined below:
(1) If the individual amounts allotted to each child are unknown, include the total amount for the person to whom the check is made out.
(2) If the individual amounts allotted to each person are known, enter these amounts on the appropriate page for each person 15 years old and over. Include any amounts for persons under 15 years old with the amount for the person to whom the check is made out.
Question post text
Income payments to retired workers, dependents, and disabled workers.
Description
Universe
For persons 15 years old and over