Form Filling Advice

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FILLING IN FORMS

Useful tips

• Don't write anything on the form until you have read it all the way through.
• Give yourself plenty of time to think about your answers.
• If a question is difficult to understand, try reading it out loud. Or come back to it later.
• Make notes on a piece of scrap paper before writing on the form if it is difficult to explain something.
• Always tell the truth! But give as much information as you can.
• When you have finished filling in the form, read it all the way through to check your answers before signing it.
• Don't forget to sign it.
• If the form is difficult get help!

Life is full of forms!

Wouldn't it be good if we just filled in one form and we could give a copy to whoever asked us for information? Maybe it will be like that one day. But for now, we have to fill in forms for anything we want to apply for.

Some forms seem to ask silly questions.

Our laws are complicated. The people who ask you to fill in forms usually understand why they need the information but it is not always clear to us. If you are asked to give information that you don't think is relevant, ask why the information is required and if it is necessary. For example, if you open a bank account you may be asked what your mother's maiden name is. This seems a silly question but it is for security. Not many people would know your mother's maiden name so if someone else tried to get money from your account the bank could ask what your mother's maiden name was and if they were given the wrong answer they would know something wasn't right. So do ask if you are unsure why you are being asked for information.

Always tell the truth.

If you lie on a form (give false information), it is an offense and you could get into serious trouble. Trying to gain something by giving false information is deception.

For example if you had £10,000 in savings that your granny left you but you can't have it until you are 25, you would need to put it on a form if you are asked if you have any savings. You would need to say that you have savings but they are not available to you until you are 25. There is usually a place on the form for 'anything else you would like to tell us'. You can explain about the savings here or anything else that there wasn't room for in the form. You can also write your explanation on a separate sheet of paper if there isn't enough room on the form. Remember to put your name, address and reference number if you have one, on the separate sheet and include it with the form.

Some forms are long and complicated.

Don't let forms put you off. Read through it and if you feel it is too hard to fill it in, get some help. Your local Citizens Advice Bureau will help you fill it in. You can also ask a friend or member of your family to help. The phone number and address of your local Citizens Advice Bureau will be in the phone book.

If you still need help, contact Canvey Youth Project and we will try to help. Click Contact Details for how to contact us.

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