No, your Census response won’t affect whether you get a federal stimulus check

The 2020 Census is underway, but responding to the constitutionally mandated count of everyone in the country won’t affect whether you receive a check from the federal government as part of a potential economic stimulus plan. A recent Facebook post claims otherwise.

"Go to 2020census.gov and fill out this Census form so you can get your stimulus check," the March 22 post says. "That’s how they know where to send the checks. Forward this to everyone that you know. If you don’t fill it out you will not receive a check in the mail. $1000 per adult $500 per child $3K max per household." 

This post was flagged as part of Facebook’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Facebook.) 

That’s because it’s not true, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. 

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stated on September 21, 2021 in a blog post

“The CDC and county health officials have obtained 2020 Census records to enhance their vaccination enforcement protocols.”

By law, the Census Bureau must keep your answers confidential; the information it receives is used only to produce statistics. You can respond to the Census here. 

Lawmakers, meanwhile, are still working on a stimulus plan to try to shore up the economy during the coronavirus pandemic. On Sunday, Senate Democrats blocked action on the package because they said it didn’t have enough protections for workers and needed stricter restrictions on businesses that would be bailed out under the deal. 

We rate this Facebook post False.