If you get a crisp looking $5 bill in a letter from the U.S. Department of Transportation – don’t throw it out! The five dollars is a legal tender and it is legit. The U.S. Department of Transportation is sending out 31,000 $5 bills randomly across America with a request for you to take a survey.

The letter asks you to take a call from an operator and to fill out a questionnaire for personal information about your driving habits. If you agree to participate, you’ll receive the questionnaire in the mail with an additional $4 enclosed.

This $20 million dollar survey is done every four years and helps to determine a $40 billion budget. Some people think that this is a waste of taxpayers’ money , but the U.S. Department of Transportation has found that this type of incentive to participate in the survey has increased the chances of getting the data needed to make decisions for America’s transportation future.

So if you receive one of these letters, please participate and enjoy a little extra pocket cash!