Q: I am concerned about a survey I received in the mail. It is called the American Community Survey. It is supposedly from the US Department of Commerce. My concern is that it asks for a lot of personal financial information and I seem to be the only one in my neighborhood or family to get one. Is this legitimate?

Catherine

A: It's legit, Catherine. According to the US Department of Commerce, "America is changing, and so is the census."

The American Community Survey isn't sent to everyone, just a small percentage of the population on a rotating basis. That's why you couldn't find anyone else who received this survey.

The purpose of the survey is, in part, to help determine how more than $300 billion per year is distributed.

That said, Catherine, there is no law that says you have to give more information than you feel comfortable giving. Although you should feel safe sharing your financial information with the US Department of Commerce, to my knowledge, there are no census police who will come after you.