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
26m How much did ... receive from unemployment compensation, child support or alimony, or any other REGULAR source of income?
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. Unemployment compensation - Unemployment compensation includes any money received in 1994 from State unemployment insurance funds, railroad unemployment benefits, strike benefits paid from union funds, and supplemental unemployment benefits paid by private companies (auto companies, etc.) to held replace wages during times of layoffs. This includes Federal Supplementary Compensation payments made by the Federal government to persons who have exhausted their state unemployment compensation payments. Also include money received for training allowances, transportation, and/or subsistence by persons undergoing classroom training provided through the JTPA (Job Training Partnership Act) which provides training for persons receiving welfare payments under Aid to Families with Dependent Children. This money and training will have been provided through the State or local government.
2. Child support - Child support is money received for the support of children not living with one parent as the result of a divorce or legal separation. In some cases, child support may be paid indirectly through the court.
3. Alimony - Include as alimony, money received periodically after a divorce or legal separation.
4. Any other source of income received regularly - Include under "any other source" the types of income described in sections (a) through (d) below.
a. Assistance from private charities - Periodic income received from a private charitable organization such as the Red Cross, church, etc.
b. Other regular contributions from persons not living in the household - Income as contributions, money received periodically (weekly, monthly, etc.) from persons outside the household, such as voluntary contributions by nonresident relatives or friends, money received by parents from children not living with them, and voluntary allotment checks sent by Armed Forces personnel to relatives not living with them. Exclude occasional gifts or contributions.
c. Nonservice scholarships and fellowships - Cash scholarships, fellowships, or stipends received by students for which no service or work was required.
d. Any other source - Include any other sources of money income received regularly but not specified in questions 26a through 26l.
Question post text
Do NOT include lump-sum payments such as money from an inheritance or the sale of a home.