Evaluation of Questionnaire Design Changes on Life Insurance Policy Data

Written by:
RSM2007-14

Executive Summary

In response to recommendations made in the report “Survey Estimates of Wealth: A Comparative Analysis and Review of the Survey of Income and Program Participation” (2003), the Census Bureau changed the way life insurance data are collected in the Wealth Topical Module of the Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP). Instead of asking for the face value of life insurance policies, the questionnaire was revised to collect information on the cash value of life insurance policies. In fulfillment of Goal 5 of Interagency Agreement (IAA) B C-06-05 between the Social Security Administration (SSA) and the U.S. Bureau of the Census, the Census Bureau evaluated the impact of the questionnaire change on the resulting collected life insurance data.

Page Last Revised - October 8, 2021