Have you completed your Census 2021 form?

I did mine on line as soon as it came, it only took a few minutes and I printed off the confirmation email they sent to confirm I had completed it

Chestnut

I think it's wrong to suggest people fill them in now. The data is for the night of 21st March, and there may be all sorts of reasons why things may have changed by then. If you are in hospital for instance, you are entered there. How many people will even bother notifying them of changes?

You are right, Chestnut. Census forms should be filled in on the day specified. The data will be more accurate if kept to one day. How many people who have filled their forms in early will bother notifying anyone of changes?

The letter also says that if you want to complete it early, then you need to notify them if anything changes.
I presume it spreads the load on the website if some, who don't expect their circumstances to change, fill it in early.

As for those in hospital, or other places, they are asked to ensure that they appear on the census at their usual address. As a student nurse in 1971, I contacted a few next-of-kin to check, and I remember a discussion with the homeless hostel next door about some patients.
In 1981, I was on a long-distance coach. The driver handed us all slips of paper asking us to ensure that we were on a census form at our usual address.

Teacheranne

lemsip

I states;
Please fill in the form on Sunday 21 March 2021, or as soon as you can afterwards. This is so we can count the whole population on the same day.
Those are the rules,

In that case, the online form should have been set up to only go live on the 21st March - maybe a slip up!

I’ve not received any post about the census yet, nor has my mum ( will go to an empty house or be redirected to my house) but I’ll end up filling them both in I expect

lemsip there are always some...........

Not received mine yet.

I'll do ours online on Census Day (21st) otherwise it's not a true reflection of who is in our house on that day. It will probably just be the two of us - unless one of us snuffs it before then! It will be interesting to see what questions are asked this year in comparison to previous decades. I do remember doing the last one - on paper.

While researching my ancestors I came across one who was listed on the 1881 census but actually died on that day, but of course I don't know whether that was before or after the census was competed.

Not got ours yet

Surely it has to be completed on 21st or what's the point. Who has a crystal ball and knows for definite eg hospital admission, sudden death, unexpected overnight stay will not occur before the 21st? Can you imagine the bother having to make contact to have amendments made. Once firm is received will complete with some information but will wait until the 21st before finalising.

I shall fill it in on the date 21st March (or very soon after) as the letter states.

Is everyone aware that it is not to be completed until 21st March?

I filled mine in yesterday to get it out of the way, as I don't expect anything to change between now and the 21st. If it does, there is provision to inform whoever. I agree some of the questions are intrusive and as I've been single (by choice) for nearly 35 years - a lot longer than I was married - I also object to being classed as divorced. As for sexual orientation - after that long I would class myself as a 'born-again virgin'! Unfortunately that choice wasn't on the form.

Ah well, if I drop down dead between now and the 21st it will not be my problem.

I also cannot see what my last job carried out around 18 years ago has any relevance. I had retired from my full-time job and had 3 very part-time jobs.

Mine and DH done if anything changes one of us will notify the office. Can’t see a problem?! Questions very strange and intrusive in some ways not altogether happy - big brother watching us??

cossybabe

I've done mine - put my nationality as White European

Because that’s what you are? Or are yo7 trying to make a point?
What were the options?

I'll do mine later by way of a distraction from the bulls**t that is the Royal inteview. Can't do two things at once now

Did mine as soon as letter came. Was surprised as to how few questions there were. Obviously, if I die before 21st then I will have lied!!! Otherwise, chances of any other changes are pretty remote.

I do not think questions are at all intrusive, do not understand why people get so paranoid about this sort of data collection. It can be very useful.

Tracing my family I have used the Census material from years gone by. It’s so important that you do it on the day or after. As a previous statement said you never know what’s going to happen in two weeks time. This isn’t about the Government being nosey but more how they work out what we might need with regards to infrastructure in the future.

I also object to being called paranoid for stating my own opinion. Is that wrong too?

I’m sure I haven’t done the census on line before, although there may have been that option. I am in England and will do it on line this time.I have heard (through people who live there] that it is on paper in Wales and Northern Ireland.
I too am surprised it is possible to do it early ( although I don’t doubt that it is).

I was going to leave it until nearer the time but thought it might be a good idea to get it done (inspired by this thread) just case there was a problem and then it'd be a scramble to complete in time. So, it's done and took around 15 minutes, rather than the ten it suggested.

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Filled in ours but not yet filed - just in case!

Would have liked a free text box to put in information that might be of use to a genealogist in 100 years' time. For example my daughter lives abroad; it might save someone some effort if they know they're not going to find her in this year's UK census. I could add some notes about what my job actually entails - it might not exist in 100 years! Or maybe just leave some Very Useful and Sage Advice for my descendants.

Rainwashed

I’m sure I haven’t done the census on line before, although there may have been that option. I am in England and will do it on line this time.I have heard (through people who live there] that it is on paper in Wales and Northern Ireland.
I too am surprised it is possible to do it early ( although I don’t doubt that it is).

census.gov.uk/

I haven't had a letter but went on line last night. Got an access code. Needed for when doing it on line. It can be sent by text, email or paper. Received mine within 1 minute on my mobile.

Won't fill it in until the day though.

Not completed mine yet - what are the "intrusive" questions?

Did mine online the day it arrived. My sister phoned me giving off cos she's not online, so she had to phone for the form to be sent out. Her friends, who are over 65, automatically got forms sent out. Shes fuming that they just think everyone under the age of 65 have internet.