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Original poster

Census

104 replies

sidesplittinglol · 19/03/2021 22:44

Not an AIBU but I know this topic gets traffic.

Wondered if anyone knows the right answer -

Can the census form be filled out before? I've submitted mine and it went through fine no problem.

However, the letter says to be completed on Sunday or a few days after but yet online it says you can fill it once you receive your letter.

So which is it?

I'm hoping I haven't done it wrong by completing it before Sunday.

OP posts:
PickAChew · 19/03/2021 22:46

Yes, so long as you know who is in your house on Sunday. You can edit, anyhow, if things change.

SnackSizeRaisin · 19/03/2021 22:48

Yes, fine to do it early, just update if you get unexpected visitors who have no other home!

Chloemol · 19/03/2021 23:04

Yes I have done mine, in fact I did it last week

HaveeeeYouMetTed · 19/03/2021 23:15

You've just reminded me to do mine.
I cannot afford the £1000 fine!

SchrodingersImmigrant · 19/03/2021 23:16

I did before all fine. Not like I can have visitors, innit

Rummikub · 19/03/2021 23:18

So if my dd is at uni right now I don’t put her in?

BackforGood · 19/03/2021 23:22

Yes, you can fill it out any time from when you had the code

@Rummikub, yes you put her in. It is really clear once you get going. There is a question about adults for whom this is their permanent home, but they are away for 30 days or more a year. Then it asks you if they are a student. If they are, you don't answer more questions for them. They (the student) get a code, and answer them, themselves.

SchrodingersImmigrant · 19/03/2021 23:23

@Rummikub

So if my dd is at uni right now I don’t put her in?
She fills it for uni address. Uni will have an info for her
GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 19/03/2021 23:23

Just did mine!

Rummikub · 19/03/2021 23:25

@BackforGood
Thanks for that
I do remember her telling me about a code she got but she was rather vague with the detail!

Newschapter · 19/03/2021 23:28

My neighbours don't do online stuff.

They currently have covid and when my dh popped over to their door to leave some food they had left it under a plant pot for us to fill in for them...

I don't have a fucking clue what qualifications they have, but would be quite sure of the rest (they're also relations of DH's)

So now I'm going to have to ring them tomorrow when filling it in. 🙄 No good deed and all that, eh?

SchrodingersImmigrant · 19/03/2021 23:29

@Newschapter

My neighbours don't do online stuff.

They currently have covid and when my dh popped over to their door to leave some food they had left it under a plant pot for us to fill in for them...

I don't have a fucking clue what qualifications they have, but would be quite sure of the rest (they're also relations of DH's)

So now I'm going to have to ring them tomorrow when filling it in. 🙄 No good deed and all that, eh?

As far as i know they vould have just request paper one
HaveeeeYouMetTed · 19/03/2021 23:33

Why can't they fill it in themselves despite having covid? Hmm

Original poster
sidesplittinglol · 19/03/2021 23:58

@HaveeeeYouMetTed

You've just reminded me to do mine. I cannot afford the £1000 fine!
You're welcome!
OP posts:
Original poster
sidesplittinglol · 20/03/2021 00:00

Thank you all so much for your replies! I feel better now!

OP posts:
CoRhona · 20/03/2021 00:26

Oooh I didn't put DS1 (at uni) in ours, he says he'd done one online so I assumed that superceded the home one. Do I need to edit and add him in?

Einszwei · 20/03/2021 01:41

Technically you are supposed to do it on the 21st .. just edit it in the unlikely event that circumstances change.

People shouldn't be worried if they fill the census out late. Fines are only given put for non compliance much further down the line.

vodkaredbullgirl · 20/03/2021 01:46

I only posted mine yesterday.

BarbaraofSeville · 20/03/2021 02:52

It would have helped if they said in the letter how long 'as soon as possible' means. A day, week, month, what?

Although I've only just noticed in the leaflet that you can do it before, which is good as I wondered if there will be enough system capacity for the entire country to do it on Sunday.

But I don't understand why the PP thinks she has to do her neighbours census. If they can't do it online, they need to get a paper one to do themselves. There's helping a neighbour and there's cheeky fuckery.

Sparklingbrook · 20/03/2021 05:05

I added DS1 who is currently at Uni (private rental) but it asked if he lived away from the address for more than 30 days a year. When I clicked yes it didn't ask any further questions about him other than where he lived for those 30 days so I am assuming they'll send him something to complete the rest.

Xenia · 20/03/2021 11:04

Yes as long as you know what will happen then. I did mine just now.
There is also guidance for students too eg I had one son who lives at home and studies here who is differently treated than the other who also lives at home as main address but has a university term time address too. All 3 go on my census form but the details slightly differ. My son who lives at university also has to complete it there. I just sent him a screen shot " - Students - include yourself at both your term time and out of term time addresses."

Gas central heating comes to the fore this year. I think 1911 was more interesting - how many babies have you had and how many are still living which sadly was 9 born and only 3 still alive for my ancestor in one case, poor her, baby after baby after child had died. As a memorial to all the dead babies I made it my mission to find their details and log them and buy the birth and death certs; whereas another had had 11 children and 10 of those survived. I think that was more interesting that gas central heating. The only reason the state is asking about that is they want to abolish it and take away from us our wonderful lovely radiators.

I think it is best people do it this weekend as it is to reflect how things are on 21 March - tomorrow if I remember correctly. It was irritating for me that in 1841 a one year old ancestor was visiting another family (very weird) although back in the family home by 1851 census.

SoupDragon · 20/03/2021 11:07

@Sparklingbrook

I added DS1 who is currently at Uni (private rental) but it asked if he lived away from the address for more than 30 days a year. When I clicked yes it didn't ask any further questions about him other than where he lived for those 30 days so I am assuming they'll send him something to complete the rest.
He will have received a census form to fill in at the private address. DS2 was unusually responsible and their Uni household filled it in before I even thought to do mine.
WorraLiberty · 20/03/2021 11:08

Does anyone know if there's an option to save it halfway through and come back to it, if you get disturbed?

MNHQ
LouMumsnet · 20/03/2021 11:09

Hello, @sidesplittinglol - we've moved this over to the Chat topic now. Smile

skirk64 · 20/03/2021 11:10

Did mine weeks ago. And yes you can save part way through if you need to. You can go back and change your answers too.

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