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2020 Post-Census Group Quarter Review (PCGQR)
2020 Post-Census Group Quarters Review (PCGQR)
The case status list is updated every Monday by 5:00pm Eastern Time (whether there are new cases or not). If Monday is a holiday, the list is updated on Tuesday. In compliance with Title 13, we will not be able to disclose specific details about cases once they have been submitted and reviewed.
Eligible tribal, state, and local governmental units can start submitting 2020 PCGQR cases for review on June 06, 2022. Cases will be accepted until June 30, 2023.
On this page:
Overview
What is the 2020 PCGQR?
The 2020 Post-Census Group Quarters Review (PCGQR) is a new, one-time operation for governmental units in the United States and Puerto Rico to request that the U.S. Census Bureau review the population counts of group quarters they believe were not correctly counted as of April 1, 2020.
It was created in response to public feedback received on the Count Question Resolution operation about counting group quarters’ populations during the unprecedented challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The operation can, though, inform and improve the statistics produced for communities throughout the decade.
2020 PCGQR can provide the following...
It can update population counts used for population estimates and surveys.
- Once a resolution is determined for each case, the Census Bureau will respond to the governmental unit in writing with an official determination letter that indicates whether the case is determined to be in scope, out of scope, or if no corrections are warranted. The Census Bureau will inform governmental units of the results of their case on a rolling basis and complete all case research and resolution by no later than September 30, 2023.
- If the 2020 PCGQR process finds discrepancies in 2020 Census population counts for a group quarters facility, approved updates to this count will be provided to the Population Estimates Program. These updates will be incorporated into the next population base that the production schedule allows. Part of the estimates processing includes the infusion of a small amount of differentially private noise into the April 1, 2020, counts to adhere to enterprise disclosure avoidance standards. More information on disclosure avoidance modernization for the 2020 Census is available here.
- The population estimates developed from the updated population base will also be used by numerous Census Bureau surveys such as the American Community Survey and the Puerto Rico Community Survey. These surveys use population estimates as survey controls so that the population totals from the survey conform to the updated population estimates.
It will contribute to current information for communities.
- The updated population estimates provided to the American Community Survey and Puerto Rican Community Survey contribute to providing communities with current information on social, economic, housing, and demographic topics.
- Information from these surveys generate data that help determine how more than $675 billion in federal and state funds are distributed each year.
2020 PCGQR cannot provide...
This operation cannot change 2020 Census counts or data products, such as apportionment and redistricting.
It also cannot review population counts for housing units, including units where students live in an area surrounding a college or university.
No errata table will be provided and, in compliance with Title 13, we will not be able to disclose specific details about the submitted cases.
For information about how governmental units can request a review of legal boundaries, housing placement, and associated 2020 Census population totals - or to update their population totals throughout the decade - visit our Unexpected Results page.
To compare 2020 PCGQR with other options for reviewing or updating population counts after the 2020 Census, refer to this comparison table:
What is a Group Quarters?
A group quarters is a place where people live or stay, in a group living arrangement, owned or managed by an entity or organization providing housing and/or services for the residents.
These services may include custodial or medical care as well as other types of assistance, and residency is commonly restricted to those receiving these services. People living in group quarters are usually not related to each other. This is not a typical household-type living arrangement.
Types of Group Quarters Reviewed
The Census Bureau can review the 2020 Census population count for group quarters that existed and were available for occupancy on April 1, 2020.
Most group quarters types are eligible for review. To determine whether a group quarters type is eligible, governmental units should review the following sources. Cases must be consistent with:
- 2020 Census Bureau Group Quarters Definitions and Code List
- 2020 Census Residence Criteria and Residence Situations.
- Additional guidance provided by the Census Bureau in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Eligible group quarters types:
- Correctional Facilities for Adults
- Juvenile Facilities
- Nursing Facilities/Skilled-Nursing Facilities
- Other Institutional Facilities
- College/University Student Housing
- Military Quarters
- Emergency and Transitional Shelters (with Sleeping Facilities) for People Experiencing Homelessness
- Group Homes Intended for Adults
- Residential Treatment Centers for Adults
- Workers’ Group Living Quarters and Job Corps Centers
- Living Quarters for Victims of Natural Disasters
Ineligible group quarters types:
- Service-based locations such as Soup Kitchens, Regularly Scheduled Mobile Food Vans, Targeted Non-Sheltered Outdoor Locations
- Sensitive group quarter types such as Domestic Violence Shelters
Service-based locations are not eligible because they do not record the number of people who showed up at the location on April 1, 2020 for service.
Who Can Participate
The following active, functioning governmental unit types are eligible to submit a 2020 PCGQR case for review if it meets the eligibility requirements listed above. The Census Bureau will not accept cases from any other type of statistical or legally defined areas other than those listed below:
- Tribal areas, including federally recognized tribes with a reservation and/or off-reservation trust lands, Alaska Native Regional Corporations, and Alaska Native villages.
- States or equivalent entities (e.g. District of Columbia, Puerto Rico).
- Counties or equivalent entities (e.g. boroughs, parishes, municipios).
- Minor Civil Divisions (e.g., townships).
- Consolidated Cities.
- Incorporated Places (e.g., villages, towns, cities).
The following file specifies the governmental units eligible to submit a case by name:
Participation Instructions
All instructions for submitting a 2020 PCQGR case are available below. Materials for preparing and submitting a case are also accessible on this webpage in the section, Participation Materials.
The Census Bureau can mail these materials to participants unable to access them electronically. To request a mailed copy, please contacts us at 844-242-1765 or dcmd.2020.pcgqr.submissions@census.gov.
Eligible tribal, state, and local governmental units can begin submitting 2020 PCGQR cases on June 06, 2022. The deadline for submitting cases is June 30, 2023.
June 06, 2022: Governmental units can begin submitting 2020 PCGQR cases for review.
June 30, 2023: Deadline for governmental units to submit all documentation for a 2020 PCGQR case. Any materials sent by mail must be postmarked no later than June 30, 2023.
September 30, 2023: Deadline for the Census Bureau to inform all impacted governmental units of results.
Please note:
Once a governmental unit initiates a 2020 PCGQR request, all required documentation must be successfully submitted within 90 days.
To be successfully submitted:
- Documentation must be complete.
- Documentation meet formatting requirements.
- The submitted request must include a message from the highest elected official or appointed official that indicates they want the Census Bureau to review their census data through the 2020 PCGQR process.
- Documentation and formatting requirements are found in the Participants Guide.
To initiate a request for review, the Census Bureau must receive notification from the governmental unit's highest elected or appointed official indicating that they want the Census Bureau to review their census data through the 2020 PCGQR process.
The notification can accompany the supporting documentation submitted with the case, or it can be provided separately through email or a letter.
This level of notification assures the Census Bureau that the highest level of leadership is informed and in agreement with filing a case on behalf of the governmental unit.
How to prepare and submit a case
The following section summarizes how to prepare and submit a case. For complete instructions, please consult the Participants Guide and Frequently Asked Questions. If you have questions or would like to request a mailed copy, please contact us at 844-242-1765 or dcmd.2020.pcgqr.submissions@census.gov.
There are two submission methods: digital and paper.
- Materials required to prepare a case submission can be accessed from the Participants Guide. They are also available on this webpage in the section below, Participation Materials.
- Materials used to prepare a case include: 2020 Census Group Quarters Definitions and Codes List, US Census Bureau Geocoder, Table P5 on data.census.gov/cedsci listing group quarters population by major group quarters type, the 2020 PCGQR Response Template, and supporting documentation from the governmental unit.
- Once ready to submit, digital submissions will be sent through the Secure Web Incoming Module (SWIM).
- Paper submissions should be securely shipped to: U.S. Census Bureau, National Processing Center, 1210 East 10th Street, Jeffersonville, IN, 47132. If you ship case materials, refer to the Participants Guide for detailed packaging instructions to protect any address and personal information.
- There is no Census Bureau-provided software, such as Geographic Update Partnership Software (GUPS), to use when preparing a 2020 PCGQR case digitally. This type of software is not needed.
- Upon receiving a case, the Census Bureau will determine if it is eligible for review by the 2020 PCGQR. Once a resolution is determined for each case, the Census Bureau will respond with an official determination letter to inform the highest elected official of the governmental unit, whether the case was determined to be eligible for review, out-of-scope, or if no updates are warranted.
- These results will be provided to governmental units on a rolling basis through September 30, 2023.
- As the case is being processed, communication may occur between the Census Bureau and the designated point of contact via telephone and email.
- If a case results in approved updates a group quarters population count, these updates will be provided to the Census Bureau’s Population Estimates Program where they will be incorporated into the next population base that the production schedule allows. The American Community Survey and Puerto Rico Community Survey will use these estimates will be used to develop survey controls.
Participation Materials
The materials available for govermental units to use to prepare a 2020 PCGQR case submission are available below. Complete instructions are available in the Participants Guide and Guía para Participantes.
Access here:
2020 Census Group Quarters Definition and Code List includes only eligible group quarters types
When to use:
The 2020 Census Group Quarters Definitions and Code List is a resource for governmental units can use to determine whether a group quarters may be eligible for review. Please do not refer to other versions of the list other than the list available on this webpage.
User note:
To determine whether a case may be eligible for review, please also consider the following criteria and guidance. Cases must also be consistent with:
- 2020 Census Residence Criteria and Residence Situations
- Additional guidance provided by the Census Bureau in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Access here:
https://geocoding.geo.census.gov/geocoder/geographies/onelineaddress?form
When to use:
The Geocoder is an address look-up tool that converts your address to an approximate coordinate (longitude/latitude) and returns information about the address range that includes the address and the census geography the address is within. The tool allows you to look-up a single address.
The Geocoder can be used to review 2020 Census results and determine whether to prepare a 2020 PCGQR case.
- Governmental units should start by using https://data.census.gov/cedsci to review their 2020 Census group quarters population count. If those totals differ from expectations, then they can consider submitting a case.
- The Census Bureau also recommends reviewing the Public Law 94-171 data tables, specifically Table P5 which presents group quarters population counts by type of group quarters. These data are available on https://data.census.gov/cedsci.
- The Geocoder can then be used to identify the blocks, or geographic locations specified in those data tables.
The Geocoder can be used to locate the group quarters census block and tract required for case submission materials.
- In order to submit a case, governmental units will need to provide specific geographical information such as State and County FIPS code, Block and Track code in the 2020 PCGQR Response Template.
- The Geocoder is used to search for the codes related to the group quarters included in the case.
Access here:
These data are available on https://data.census.gov/cedsci.
Refer to the Participants Guide for instructions.
When to use:
Governmental units should use Table P5 "Group Quarters Population by Major Group Quarters Type" to determine their total group quarters population count.
If a governmental unit believes its official 2020 Census group quarters results are inaccurate based on these counts, they may consider submitting a case for review.
Access here:
https://respond.census.gov/swim/login
When to use:
The Secure Web Incoming Module, also known as SWIM, is the official web portal for secure upload of partnership materials to the Census Bureau.
Because of Census Bureau IT Security policies, governmental units use SWIM to provide digital case submissions to the Census Bureau.
Individuals can use existing SWIM accounts for the 2020 PCGQR. SWIM accounts are for individuals, not governmental units or for specific programs.
Refer to the Participants Guide for instructions on using SWIM to submit a case or resolve issues encountered.
Contact Us
If you have questions regarding the 2020 PCGQR, call us at 844-242-1765 or email us at dcmd.2020.pcgqr.submissions@census.gov. Staff is available by phone from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Eastern Time. Voicemail messages will be returned within three business days.
Additional Information
Press Kit, Fact Sheets, and Other Materials
Federal Register Notices
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