Snowbirds, your census form matters to Michigan

To make sure you're counted in Michigan, say you're "vacationing" on April 1

Most people will fill out their census forms when they return home to Michigan. (The U.S. Postal Service is not forwarding census forms.) However, if you get a census form from your vacation home state, don't answer that you are "living" there on April 1. If you do, you'll be counted as a resident of that state.

• On any census form from the state where you vacation, indicate “zero” where it asks for the number of April 1 residents. Write "usual residence elsewhere" somewhere on the form before mailing it back.
• In May or June, census takers will visit Michigan homes that didn’t return a census. Tell the census worker that you lived at your Michigan address on April 1, but were vacationing at the time. If you tell the census worker you were living elsewhere on Census Day, you won't be counted in Michigan, even if you live here most of the time.

What "living" in another state could cost Michigan

The census count makes a big difference to Michigan.

• Michigan will lose up to $1,200 a year for each snowbird who isn't counted. That's up to $12,000 per person over the next 10 years.
• Federal programs that help Michigan older adults and individuals with disabilities will have their funding reduced. These services include home-delivered meals, healthcare, senior employment, transportation, legal assistance and prevention of elder abuse.
• There's the potential to lose a seat in the House of Representatives if we lose too many people.

For more information, call the Office of Services to the Aging in Lansing at 517 373-8230 or visit their website at www.michigan.gov/miseniors.