How to download, fill in and email us a form

Many of our forms are provided in ‘rich text format’. These can be downloaded and filled in on screen using most types of word-processing software. The form can then be returned by email (or printed to be signed and posted if necessary). You do not need to have Microsoft Word to use these forms.

The parts of the form that you can fill in will typically be marked with a grey rectangle, which is where you can type your answers.

There are two other types of form on this site:

• forms in Adobe PDF format – to be printed off and completed or signed by hand
• web-based forms – where you type directly into the web page you are viewing and click ‘Submit’ to send us your form. Your information is sent securely and protected within our systems.

Saving your form

Once you are on the page that includes a link to the form you want to complete, there are two ways to begin:

1. click on the 'type, sign and post' link – your web browser will open the document and you can begin typing into it. At any time you can click 'File > Save as' to save your work.

Alternatively:

2. right click on the link to the document and choose 'Save target as' or ‘Save link as…’. A dialogue box will open asking you to confirm the name of the file and where you want to save it.

• browse to your desktop or to the folder where you want to keep the document
• click the 'Save' button
• when your computer has finished saving the form, you may see options to click 'Close' to view the form later, or 'Open' to work on it immediately. If you don’t see these options you will have to open your form from the folder where you have saved it.

Don't forget to save your changes as you work on the form. You can save the completed form with a different name if you prefer, by clicking 'File > Save as' and typing the new file name into the dialogue box.

How to email your form to us

Send your completed form to us at the email address shown on the form. Please copy and paste the email address into a new email message.

If you can’t see an email address this means that the form you are using cannot be sent electronically. You will need to sign and post it.

Don’t forget to attach the form.

To attach your form to the message, first click in the space that you normally type your message. How you then attach the form will depend on your email software. Nearly all email software uses a paperclip icon to do this. Click on it and browse to the file you want to attach.

Or in Microsoft Outlook or Outlook Express: Click 'Insert > File'.

What happens next?

If there are any problems with your form we will let you know. We will also tell you how long it is likely to take to provide you with the things you have asked for in the form.