diff --git a/app/views/phases/_answer_form.html.erb b/app/views/phases/_answer_form.html.erb
index 223ddd0..334c057 100644
--- a/app/views/phases/_answer_form.html.erb
+++ b/app/views/phases/_answer_form.html.erb
@@ -12,6 +12,9 @@
        answer = answers.first
      else
        answer = Answer.new({ plan_id: plan.id, question_id: question.id, user_id: current_user.id })
+       if question.default_value.present?
+        answer.text = question.default_value
+      end
      end
    %>
   <div class="question-form">
@@ -70,8 +73,8 @@
      <div class="accordion" id="<%= question.id %>-guidance">
 
         <!--question guidance-->
+        <% num_annotations = 0 %>
         <% if annotations.present? %>
-          <% num_annotations = 0 %>
           <% annotations.each do |annotation| %>
 
             <div class="accordion-group">