diff --git a/app/notifications/rest.py b/app/notifications/rest.py
index 4647cfd8b..202ebc653 100644
--- a/app/notifications/rest.py
+++ b/app/notifications/rest.py
@@ -260,9 +260,10 @@ def send_notification(notification_type):
             status_code=400
         )
 
+    notification_id = create_uuid()
+    notification.update({"template_version": template.version})
+
     if not _simulated_recipient(notification['to'], notification_type):
-        notification_id = create_uuid()
-        notification.update({"template_version": template.version})
         persist_notification(
             service,
             notification_id,
@@ -273,16 +274,12 @@ def send_notification(notification_type):
             api_user.key_type
         )
 
-        return jsonify(
-            data=get_notification_return_data(
-                notification_id,
-                notification,
-                template_object)
-        ), 201
-    else:
-        return jsonify(
-            data=_get_simulated_recipient_response_data(template_object)
-        ), 200
+    return jsonify(
+        data=get_notification_return_data(
+            notification_id,
+            notification,
+            template_object)
+    ), 201
 
 
 def get_notification_return_data(notification_id, notification, template):
@@ -314,18 +311,6 @@ def _simulated_recipient(to_address, notification_type):
             else to_address in current_app.config['SIMULATED_EMAIL_ADDRESSES'])
 
 
-def _get_simulated_recipient_response_data(template_object):
-    response_data = {
-        'body': template_object.replaced,
-        'template_version': template_object._template['version']
-    }
-
-    if template_object._template['template_type'] == 'email':
-        response_data.update({'subject': template_object.replaced_subject})
-
-    return response_data
-
-
 def persist_notification(
         service,
         notification_id,
diff --git a/tests/app/notifications/rest/test_send_notification.py b/tests/app/notifications/rest/test_send_notification.py
index 97cd8ec53..0d8ad94c5 100644
--- a/tests/app/notifications/rest/test_send_notification.py
+++ b/tests/app/notifications/rest/test_send_notification.py
@@ -963,7 +963,7 @@ def test_should_not_send_email_if_simulated_email_address(client, to_email, samp
         data=json.dumps(data),
         headers=[('Content-Type', 'application/json'), auth_header])
 
-    assert response.status_code == 200
+    assert response.status_code == 201
     apply_async.assert_not_called()
 
 
@@ -987,5 +987,5 @@ def test_should_not_send_sms_if_simulated_sms_number(client, to_sms, sample_temp
         data=json.dumps(data),
         headers=[('Content-Type', 'application/json'), auth_header])
 
-    assert response.status_code == 200
+    assert response.status_code == 201
     apply_async.assert_not_called()