Appendix C: April 2020 Supplemental Survey Questionnaire
This appendix contains a reproduction of the April 2020 supplemental 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 well-being 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, D.C. 20551, and to the Office of Management and Budget, Paperwork Reduction Project (7100-0359), Washington, D.C. 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 this month?
1. Able to pay all bills
0. Can't pay some bills
Employment Section
Base: All respondents
CV1 [S]
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
Prompt twice.
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: All respondents
CV3 [S]
Last week did you take on any side jobs, gig work, or other new work to supplement your income?
1. Yes
0. No
Base: All respondents
CV4 [GRID ACROSS]
Have you experienced or done each of the following 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. Reduced hours or took unpaid leave
d. Took paid leave (including sick or vacation time)
e. Increased hours worked or worked overtime
f. Applied for unemployment benefits
ACROSS
1. Yes
0. No
Base: CV4_a=1
CV5 [S]
Do you expect to return to the same job that you had before you lost a job, were laid off, or were told not to work?
0. No, do not expect to return to the same job
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
Base: (CV4_a not equal 1) and (CV4_b=1 or CV4_c=1 or CV4_d=1)
CV6 [GRID ACROSS]
Did each of the following contribute to your taking leave, working fewer hours, or leaving a job since March 1st (the onset of the coronavirus outbreak in the U.S. known as COVID-19)?
DOWN
a. Childcare responsibilities
b. Family responsibilities other than childcare
c. Health limitation or illness
d. Employer reduced hours or business slowed
e. Other reasons (please specify) [Text box]
ACROSS
1. Yes
0. No
Base: CV1 = 1, 2, and 3 (Employed or self-employed, including paid as if working)
CV7 [S]
Assuming that your community engaged in social distancing for the next month, how would you expect this to affect your work?
1. Would continue working my normal hours at my usual place of work
2. Would continue working my normal hours by telecommuting
3. Expect to have hours reduced
4. Expect to be laid off or furloughed
5. Expect to work more hours than usually worked
Base: All respondents
CV8 [S]
How did your income last month (March) compare to your income two months ago (February)?
1. Much lower
2. Somewhat lower
3. About the same
4. Somewhat higher
5. Much higher
Health and Leave Section
Base: CV1 = 1, 2, or 3 (employed or self-employed)
CV9 [S]
Think about any sick leave, vacation time, or other paid leave that you have available. If you got sick with symptoms of the coronavirus, how much time could you take off from work and still be paid as much as you usually are?
1. None
2. Less than one week
3. At least one week but less than two weeks
4. Two weeks or more
Base: All respondents
CV10 [S]
If you got sick with symptoms of the coronavirus, would you try to contact a doctor?
1. Yes
2. No, primarily due to cost or other financial reasons
3. No, primarily to avoid taking doctor's time and resource
4. No, primarily for other reasons