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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:
SleepingStandingUp · 20/03/2021 11:12

I did mine when it cam because baring the kind of calamity that means I wouldn't be doing it anyway, there will be us 5 here on the date.

WorraLiberty · 20/03/2021 11:12

@skirk64

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.
Excellent, thank you!
CormoranStrike · 20/03/2021 11:22

I’ve not had a census form

CormoranStrike · 20/03/2021 11:25

And google has just told me why! I live in Scotland, and our census has been move to 2022, cos of Covid

daisybrown37 · 20/03/2021 11:44

@WorraLiberty

Does anyone know if there's an option to save it halfway through and come back to it, if you get disturbed?
Yes there is - you can save and come back, you just put your access code in again.
daisybrown37 · 20/03/2021 11:45

Sorry - just realised someone had already answered the saving question!

Chardonnay73 · 20/03/2021 11:50

I’m panicking a bit now. Not had a letter but didn’t worry too much as I knew I could do it online.
Just tried to do it and my address isn’t listed. Tried to call them, lines closed, web chat closed despite both saying they are open 8-1pm on Saturday??
Sent an email that will be responded to within 2 working days??! 🤦‍♀️
So I can’t complete it. 🤷‍♀️

SchrodingersImmigrant · 20/03/2021 11:55

@CormoranStrike

And google has just told me why! I live in Scotland, and our census has been move to 2022, cos of Covid
😱 that's interesting! Didn't think they can do that because I thought it's some agreement amongst countries about when to do it
Rummikub · 20/03/2021 12:41

@Xenia
What’s this about gas central heating?

Are they trying to trick people into switching to the ground source heat pumps?

Xenia · 20/03/2021 12:42

I changed my mind about one option in it and tried go back. I had to reopen that person's one of my household and it had saved everything keyed in up to that point so I think it does save. If there is a save button do keep clicking that as you go through.

Sparklingbrook · 20/03/2021 13:58

@SoupDragon, he lives in a shared house with 3 other people so no idea how that works. He doesn't really know or see two of the residents. Confused

CuthbertDibbleandGrubb · 20/03/2021 14:10

Mine went in the post on Wednesday. I insisted on a paper form so I could add a note re my views on data retention and that I do not 'identify' but biologically am!

Xenia · 20/03/2021 16:59

Rumm - central heating - it is an eco thing - they think gas central heating is bad for the environment and want to ban all newly built properties form having it - although that may have been delayed and ideally want everyone to convert to something else but I know the something else will be much work and expensive and they will con us by saying over 30 years you may save money.

Chard I just called my son to ask if he had had the census letter at his student house. He had not so I found on line where you can fill in and get a new code texted to you. The code came to his phone whilst I was on the phone in seconds. You do not have to wait for emails or anything like that. Anyone on MN who has not had a form should do this.
You go on herecensus.gov.uk/en/request/access-code/enter-address/ and request a code to your mobile. you then can take the code and enter it and complete the census entirely online at www.census.gov.uk - start census.
I got birth certs for some ancestors in the 1850s and 60s today and have never been able to find that family on the 1851 census but have on 1841 and 1861. All very useful.

As someone said above Scotland decided to do the census in 2022 - so any Scottish mumsnetters will just need to wait until next year.

However it is vital to answer the central heating question as as soon as they realise how many of us have it they will realise forcing change is going to be impossible.

Xenia · 20/03/2021 17:01

The other interesting one is religious. I deliberately put christian as on other censuses even though I rarely go to church now and don't believe in God as I feel that is my culture and I want that reflected in the statistics so I felt Christian was most accurate.. That question is important in the state knowing how many of the different religions and none that there are and which religions are over taking over ones etc

Howshouldibehave · 20/03/2021 17:05

I didn’t list DC (who is away at university and not back for Easter until next week), on our census form. He has filled in the form from his university address-is that not right?

SwedishEdith · 20/03/2021 17:10

@Xenia

The other interesting one is religious. I deliberately put christian as on other censuses even though I rarely go to church now and don't believe in God as I feel that is my culture and I want that reflected in the statistics so I felt Christian was most accurate.. That question is important in the state knowing how many of the different religions and none that there are and which religions are over taking over ones etc
I would have thought all your other answers on being white British/Irish are going to indicate your culture. Putting something you're actually not seems bizarre.
latedecember1963 · 20/03/2021 17:21

My mum is not online and was getting very het up about not being able to get through by phone to request a paper form.
I filled it in online for her on Tuesday evening by asking her for her responses by phone.
She was rather perplexed by the question asking if she had a door on her bathroom.
DS2 has completed one for his uni address because that's where he will be tomorrow.
I work with Y5 children and I found some examples of 1821 census records for them to look at and they were fascinated by the idea that they could find out about real people from the past.
When my friend completes hers she will have to put her marital status as widow for the 1st time which I'm sure will feel strange.

SoupDragon · 20/03/2021 17:24

@Howshouldibehave

I didn’t list DC (who is away at university and not back for Easter until next week), on our census form. He has filled in the form from his university address-is that not right?
Is your home his normal home address? If so, you include him but say he's away for more than 30 days. I think you then say he's a student, give his term time address and it stops asking questions as they'll be covered on his own form.
SoupDragon · 20/03/2021 17:25

@CuthbertDibbleandGrubb

Mine went in the post on Wednesday. I insisted on a paper form so I could add a note re my views on data retention and that I do not 'identify' but biologically am!
From memory, the online form asks two questions - actual biological sex and identified gender.
Sparklingbrook · 20/03/2021 17:26

@Howshouldibehave

I didn’t list DC (who is away at university and not back for Easter until next week), on our census form. He has filled in the form from his university address-is that not right?
I stuck DS1 on ours then it asked me where he lived for the rest of the time and once I'd given his term time address there were no further questions. So no qualifications/job etc. So I am assuming they'll ask him. But if they don't at least he exists somewhere.

But I would think if your DC has already filled in the form then that's fine.

Howshouldibehave · 20/03/2021 17:35

Is your home his normal home address? If so, you include him but say he's away for more than 30 days. I think you then say he's a student, give his term time address and it stops asking questions as they'll be covered on his own form.

I have submitted it already-crap Blush. I knew he’d entered his census details online already and the form was all about who was staying in your household on the night of the census so I didn’t think he would be entered twice.

Bugger, I don’t think I can change the information once submitted.

gurglebelly · 20/03/2021 17:35

The thing that bothers me, is that they will use the answers to these questions for planning purposes e.g traffic etc, but it asks you to fill in the working from home questions based on what you are doing now.

Well no I don't commute now, because we are in lockdown and have been asked to work from home. In June it will be a different matter because we will be going back to the office

Sparklingbrook · 20/03/2021 17:37

I had to ask DH exactly what he does because I am never exactly sure what his job title is. Grin

Sparklingbrook · 20/03/2021 17:38

@Howshouldibehave

Is your home his normal home address? If so, you include him but say he's away for more than 30 days. I think you then say he's a student, give his term time address and it stops asking questions as they'll be covered on his own form.

I have submitted it already-crap Blush. I knew he’d entered his census details online already and the form was all about who was staying in your household on the night of the census so I didn’t think he would be entered twice.

Bugger, I don’t think I can change the information once submitted.

I don't think it's a problem. Do you think he had to enter your address as part of his details anyway and it'll all make sense? It does ask if they are a student in full time education.
AllThatFancyPaintsAsFair · 20/03/2021 17:40

@Einszwei

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.

Maybe it's different in different areas but there's an advert on the radio that I heard this afternoon that specifically says you can fill it in before the 21st