Appendix A: July 2020 Survey Questionnaire
This appendix contains a reproduction of the survey instrument in its entirety. The bracketed texts are programming instructions such as custom text that will appear differently based on previous responses. Questions designated with an [S] indicate that the respondent can only select a single response and those designated with an [M] allow multiple responses. Not all questions are shown to all respondents, and the skip patterns used to reach each question are listed as the "Asked of" line above each question. The respondents only see the questions and response option; they do not see the program code. Question numbers are not always sequential in order to preserve continuity with question numbers from earlier surveys where possible. Questions are listed below in the order in which they are presented to respondents.
Introduction
Base: All respondents
DISPLAY01 [Disp]
Welcome
We want to learn more about your financial wellbeing and views on the economy. We appreciate your participation in this survey.
This survey supports research on financial conditions in the United States. It has been reviewed and is consistent with requirements from the Office of Management and Budget.
OMB Control Number: 7100-0359
Expiration Date: October 31, 2020
[ If "supports" clicked above, display this text in a new tab or window]
A report with findings from this survey and a dataset—without including your name or any other identifying information—will be released publicly on the Federal Reserve Board's website.
[ If "requirements" clicked above, display this text in a new tab or window]
The Federal Reserve may not conduct or sponsor, and an organization is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. Public reporting burden for this information collection is estimated to average 0.07 hours, including the time to gather data in the required form and to review instructions and complete the information collection. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden to: Secretary, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, 20th and C Streets, NW, Washington, DC 20551, and to the Office of Management and Budget, Paperwork Reduction Project (7100-0359), Washington, DC 20503.
General Well-Being Section
Base: All respondents
B2 [S]
Overall, which one of the following best describes how well you are managing financially these days?
4. Living comfortably
3. Doing okay
2. Just getting by
1. Finding it difficult to get by
Emergency Fund Section
Base: All respondents
EF3 [M]
Suppose that you have an emergency expense that costs $400. Based on your current financial situation, how would you pay for this expense?
Suppress default instructions, instead show: If you would use more than one method to cover this expense, please select all that apply.
a. Put it on my credit card and pay it off in full at the next statement
b. Put it on my credit card and pay it off over time
c. With the money currently in my checking/savings account or with cash
d. Using money from a bank loan or line of credit
e. By borrowing from a friend or family member
f. Using a payday loan, deposit advance, or overdraft
g. By selling something
h. I wouldn't be able to pay for the expense right now
Base: All respondents
EF5A [S]
Which best describes your ability to pay all of your bills in full in July?
1. Able to pay all bills
0. Can't pay some bills
Base: EF5A=0 (unable to pay all bills this month)
EF6A [M]
Which of the following bills are you unable to pay in full in July?
Suppress default instructions, instead show: Please select all that apply.
a. Rent or mortgage
b. Credit card
c. Water, gas, or electric bill
d. Phone or cable bill
e. Car payment
f. Student loan
g. Other bills
Base: All respondents
EF7 [BANKED GRID, S ACROSS]
How confident are you that you will be able to pay all of your bills in full in August and September?
DOWN
a. August
b. September
ACROSS
1. Not at all confident
2. Slightly confident
3. Moderately confident
4. Very confident
Coronavirus Labor Section
Base: All respondents
CV1 [S]
Prompt twice.
Which one of the following best describes your employment status last week?
1. Employed
2. Self-employed
3. Not working, but being paid my normal wages
4. Temporarily laid off or furloughed
5. Not employed, but looking for a job
6. Not employed and not looking for a job
Base: CV1 = 1 or 2 (Employed or self-employed)
CV2 [S]
Thinking about the work you did last week, how much of it did you do by telecommuting or working from home?
0. None
1. Some
2. All
Base: CV2=0 or 1 or refused (Employed or self-employed, but not working from home full-time)
CV2A [S]
On the most recent day that you went to work outside your home, about how many people did you have direct contact with at your job?
Direct contact means either physical contact like hand-shaking or spending more than 5 minutes within 6 feet of a person you do not live with.
0. None
1. 1 to 2
2. 3 to 5
3. 6 to 9
4. 10 to 19
5. 20 or more
Base: All respondents
CV4 [BANKED GRID, S ACROSS]
Have you experienced or done each of the following at any time since March 1st (the onset of the coronavirus outbreak in the U.S. known as COVID-19)?
DOWN
a. Lost a job, got laid off, or told not to work any hours
b. Voluntarily quit or changed jobs
c. Started a new job
d. Reduced hours or took unpaid leave
e. Increased hours worked or worked overtime
ACROSS
1. Yes
0. No
Base: CV4_a=1 (Lost a job)
CV5 [S]
Do you expect to return to the same employer that you worked for before you lost a job, were laid off, or were told not to work?
0. No, do not expect to return to the same employer
1. Yes, employer expressed this is temporary but did not provide a return date
2. Yes, employer provided definite return date
3. Yes, already returned to work for the same employer
Base: CV1<=3 or CV4_a=1 or CV4_b=1 (Employed, self-employed, paid as if employed, lost a job, or voluntarily quit a job)
CV11
Thinking about precautions that [IF CV1<=3 INSERT: your employer; IF CV1>3 or refused INSERT: the employer you worked for most recently] is taking to prevent the spread of COVID-19, do you think they are taking:
1. Not enough precautions
2. About the right amount of precautions
3. Too many precautions
Base: CV1<=3 (Employed, self-employed, or paid as if employed)
CV11A [S]
If your local schools do not have in-person classes in the fall, how would that impact the amount of work for pay you do at your job?
1. No effect on the amount you work at your job
2. Cause you to work more
3. Cause you to work less
4. Cause you to stop working
Coronavirus Family Financial Circumstances
Base: All respondents
CV8 [S]
Thinking about all the income you [IF PPMARIT=1, INSERT: and your spouse / IF PPMARIT=6, INSERT: and your partner] received, how did your income last month (June) compare to your income in February before the onset of COVID-19?
Please think about all income that you [IF PPMARIT=1, INSERT: and your spouse / IF PPMARIT=6, INSERT:and your partner] received, including wages, business income, Social Security, unemployment compensation, and any other sources.
1. Much lower
2. Somewhat lower
3. About the same
4. Somewhat higher
5. Much higher
Base: GH1 from 2019 survey not equal 2 (All respondents except those who own without a mortgage)
CV12 [S]
Some landlords and mortgage lenders have provided payment relief due to the COVID-19 pandemic, such as a reduction in rent or mortgage amounts or allowing people to delay payments.
Since March 2020, have you [IF PPMARIT=1, INSERT: and/or your spouse / IF PPMARIT=6, INSERT: and/or your partner] received any payment relief or payment delay from your landlord or mortgage lender?
0. Yes
1. No
Base: CV12=0 or refused (Did not receive payment relief)
CV12A [S]
Since March 2020, did you [IF PPMARIT=1, INSERT: and/or your spouse / IF PPMARIT=6, INSERT: and/or your partner] request any payment relief or payment delay from your landlord or mortgage lender that you did not receive?
1. Yes
0. No
Base: CV12=1 (received payment relief)
CV13A [S]
When your payment relief ends, will you [IF PPMARIT=1, INSERT: and/or your spouse / IF PPMARIT=6, INSERT: and/or your partner] have to make increased payments each month or a lump-sum payment to your landlord or mortgage lender to make up for the relief you received?
1. Yes
0. No
-2. Don't know
Base: CV12=1 (received payment relief)
CV13B [S]
How confident are you that you [IF PPMARIT=1, INSERT: and/or your spouse / IF PPMARIT=6, INSERT: and/or your partner] will be able to resume making your monthly payments [if CV13A = 1, INSERT: , including any increased monthly payments or lump sum payments,] when the relief from your landlord or mortgage lender ends?
1. Not at all confident
2. Slightly confident
3. Moderately confident
4. Very confident
Base: GH1 from 2019 survey = 3 (renters)
CV14 [S]
Since March 2020, have you [IF PPMARIT=1, INSERT: and/or your spouse / IF PPMARIT=6, INSERT: and/or your partner] paid your rent using a credit card that you will carry a balance on, a cash advance, or an advance on your security deposit?
1. Yes
0. No
Base: All respondents
CV15 [S]
Since March 2020, have you [IF PPMARIT=1, INSERT: and/or your spouse / IF PPMARIT=6, INSERT: and/or your partner] received any payment relief or payment delay from regular bills other than your rent or mortgage, such as a student loan, utility bill, or car payment?
1. Yes
0. No
Base: All respondents
CV16 [BANKED GRID, S ACROSS]
Since March 2020, have you [IF PPMARIT=1, INSERT: and/or your spouse / IF PPMARIT=6, INSERT:and/or your partner] either received or applied for each of the following forms of income or assistance, or not?
DOWN
a. Unemployment insurance
b. SNAP (sometimes known as Food Stamps)
c. Free groceries or meals through a food pantry, religious, or community organization
d. Financial assistance from a religious or community organization
e. Financial assistance from family members outside your household
ACROSS
1. Received
2. Applied for but not received
3. Did not apply for and did not receive
Base: CV16_a = 1 (received Unemployment insurance)
CV17 [S]
How does the income that you [IF PPMARIT=1, INSERT: and/or your spouse / IF PPMARIT=6, INSERT:and/or your partner] received from unemployment insurance compare to the income that you [IF PPMARIT=1, INSERT: and/or your spouse / IF PPMARIT=6, INSERT:and/or your partner] previously received at work?
1. Income from unemployment insurance is higher than prior income
2. About the same
3. Income from unemployment insurance is lower than prior income
Base: If D1I from 2019 survey not equal 1 (Not Retired in October 2019)
K5A [S]
In the past 12 months, have you borrowed money from or cashed out (permanently withdrawn) money from any of your retirement savings accounts?
1. Yes, borrowed money
2. Yes, cashed out
3. Yes, both
0. No