>>910279
This is legitimate. Did they not mention the money in the cover letter?

The census bureau has done this for a very long time. It is a classic psychological tool, to motivate people to do something for the giver of the incentive. It's been widely used by the consumer survey industry for over 50 years. In other words, they know that people may see the "ask" (fill out our survey) and not feel like doing it. But a payment is seen as a transaction, with some level of conscious or subconscious obligation (guilt trip). It's similar to charities that send you junk mail that includes an envelope with actual postage stamps on it.

In this case, it is also a lot cheaper than sending out thousands of employees door-to-door to get you do do the census survey.

Source: I used to work in the survey business.

Правда соус - реддит
https://www.reddit.com/r/whatisit/comments/1wtq5ro/why_did_the_census_bureau_send_me_5_feels_extra/