Unofficial survey letters sent to seniors raise census worries

MISSION — A direct mail campaign targeting senior citizens has federal officials worried it might be mistaken for correspondence from the official 2010 census.

Despite sending letters with “unique census identification numbers,” the National Census of Senior Citizens — a questionnaire soliciting seniors’ views on issues such as Social Security and Medicare — is not affiliated with the government in any way, said U.S. Census Bureau officials who cautioned retirees against confusing the two.

“We do realize that people will take advantage of the (official) census to pull off a couple of scams,” said Efren Salinas, a Census Bureau spokesman. “I’m not saying this is a scam, but it certainly has nothing (to do) with the Census Bureau.”

Janie Ochoa — a social services coordinator at the Mission Palms retirement housing community in Mission — noticed the letters while helping residents go through their mail last month.

The documents request that recipients return their questionnaires within five days along with a check for $14.58 to help defray the cost of mailings. The answers to its questions will be used in shaping the agenda presented to lawmakers on senior issues, the letter says.

Ochoa realized the mailer was not connected to the federal government but worried the official language might be misleading some of her residents.

“One of them asked me if I could help her filling out the answers and to pay the bill,” she said. “You shouldn’t have to pay anything. The (official) census is free of charge.”

The National Census of Senior Citizens was commissioned by the Council for Retirement Security, a program of Virginia-based nonprofit group Our Generation. According to its incorporation paperwork, the group was founded to promote “long-term free market solutions to today’s public policy concerns,” in particular those surrounding Social Security, Medicare and other government retirement funds.

The organization hopes to use its census results to provide weekly updates to all members of Congress on how their constituents view these issues, Executive Director Rita Brown said.

And while her organization’s mailings make no claims to be connected to the federal government, congressmen and state attorneys general across the country have issued statements in recent weeks cautioning seniors about the organization.

Brown had Our Generation’s lawyers double-check the mailers in recent days and admits the response to the mailers has troubled her.

“It doesn’t look like the (official) census. It doesn’t say anything about the government,” she said. “I don’t see where the confusion comes in.”

The federal Census Bureau will never ask citizens for money or do any tallies outside of its decennial surveys, Salinas said. The official 2010 census doesn’t begin until March.

“It’s important to remember the only thing that the (official) census will ever mail you is a questionnaire,” Salinas said.

Those with questions on the legitimacy of any census mailers or employees can call (214) 253-4400.

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Jeremy Roebuck covers courts and general assignments for The Monitor. You can reach him at (956) 683-4437.

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CENSUS TIPS:

>> The U.S. Census Bureau will never ask for money, your credit card or bank account information or a Social Security number.

>> All Census Bureau employees carry a badge, a handheld device confirming their identity and confidentiality notices.

>> Census Bureau officials do not do community services outside of scheduled times.

>> The Census Bureau will not contact members of survey pools through e-mail.

>> Those with questions on the authenticity of any mailings can call the Census Bureau’s regional office in Dallas at (214) 253-4400.