The Census Household Panel was a national survey panel by the U.S. Census Bureau (Census). The purpose of the panel was to collect information on topics such as food and nutrition, transportation, employment, and education and to gather data that can be used to improve and inform future surveys. The panel consisted of individuals and households living across the U.S. that agreed to be contacted and invited to participate in surveys.

In January 2025, the Census Household Panel transitioned to the Household Trends and Outlook Pulse Survey (HTOPS).  You are still invited to participate in monthly surveys. Starting in February 2025, each monthly survey under the HTOPS is eligible for a $5 digital incentive.

You can learn more about the HTOPS at https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/htops.html.

Approximately 130,000 addresses across the U.S. were randomly selected to participate.

Your privacy is protected by the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. Section 552a). There are a limited number of uses of your data that are permitted under the Privacy Act. You can find a list of these uses in the System of Records Notice (SORN). For this survey, the SORNs are named:  COMMERCE/Census -3, Demographic Survey Collection (Census Bureau Sampling Frame) and COMMERCE/CENSUS-5, Decennial Census Programs. All survey responses are combined with the answers of many others and reported in a summary form. Our interest is only in the combination of all responses and not anyone’s individual answers. Your name and any other identifying information will never be associated with the answers you provide on surveys – this information is only collected for contact purposes so that we may send you invitations to future surveys. 

By law, the Census Bureau is required to keep your answers confidential. All information to be collected is protected under the confidentiality provisions of Title 13 U.S.C.

The U.S. Census Bureau was the sponsor of the Panel. The U.S. Census Bureau conducted this study under the authority of 13 U.S.C. Sections 141, 182, and 193. 

All information that you provided is used only to create accurate, relevant statistics about the nation’s people, places, and economy. These statistics help inform officials and policymakers about communities and individuals across the United States.

The U.S. Census Bureau conducted this study under the authority of 13 U.S.C. Sections 131, 141, 182, 193, and 196.