- About Tell Us Once
- Organisations that will be contacted
- Information you will need to use the service
About Tell Us Once
When someone has died, there are lots of things that need to be done. This is at a time when you probably least feel like doing them. One of these is contacting government departments and local council services that need to be told.
The Department for Work and Pensions offers a service that we hope makes things easier. You can just tell them and depending on your circumstances they will notify a number of organisations on your behalf.
They will contact Government and Council services on your behalf, after a death is registered.
- At your appointment, you will be issued with a reference number;
- You will need this to access the service online or by phone.
For more about Tell Us Once, please visit: GOV.UK: What to do after someone dies.
Open Video Transcript - Reporting a death using the Tell Us Once service
| Time | Description |
|---|---|
| 00:00 | Reporting a death using the Tell Us Once service. |
| 00:12 | We appreciate it can be a difficult time, |
| 00:14 | when someone you know dies. |
| 00:18 | Tell Us Once makes it easier to report a death, |
| 00:21 | to most government departments, |
| 00:23 | many public sector pension schemes |
| 00:25 | and local councils. |
| 00:29 | It is easy to use, |
| 00:30 | safe and secure, |
| 00:31 | saves you time, |
| 00:33 | and also saves you money. |
| 00:35 | By using the Tell us Once service, |
| 00:37 | you would need to buy fewer death certificates. |
| 00:42 | You will get advice, |
| 00:43 | on how to use the Tell Us Once service. |
| 00:44 | when you register the death. |
| 00:47 | After you provide the information needed. |
| 00:51 | Tell Us Once can notify: |
| 00:53 | The Department for Work and Pensions, |
| 00:55 | to cancel their benefits and entitlements. |
| 00:59 | His Majesty's Revenue and Customs, |
| 01:01 | to update their benefits or personal tax records. |
| 01:07 | His Majesty's Passport Office. |
| 01:08 | to cancel a British passport. |
| 01:12 | The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency. |
| 01:15 | to cancel their driving licence. |
| 01:16 | and update the keeper of a vehicle information. |
| 01:20 | and Veterans UK |
| 01:22 | to cancel War Pension Scheme |
| 01:24 | and Armed Forces Compensation Scheme payments. |
| 01:28 | Tell Us Once can also contact their local council, |
| 01:31 | to update records, including: |
| 01:34 | Housing Benefit |
| 01:36 | Council Tax |
| 01:39 | a Blue Badge |
| 01:41 | Adult Social Services |
| 01:44 | and the electoral register. |
| 01:48 | Tell Us Once can notify many public sector pension schemes, |
| 01:51 | such as the civil service, NHS, |
| 01:56 | armed forces and local government. |
| 02:01 | Tell Us Once cannot contact their bank, utility companies, |
| 02:06 | mortgage, TV Licensing, |
| 02:10 | private pension or insurance providers. |
| 02:15 | This will need to be done by the person dealing with their affairs. |
| 02:21 | For more information |
| 02:23 | go to: gov.uk/when-someone-dies. |
| 02:29 | For bereavement support |
| 02:30 | go online to nhs.uk and search for "bereavement". |
Organisations that will be contacted
- Adult services.
- Attendance Allowance.
- Blue Badge Parking Permit.
- Carer's Allowance.
- Child Benefit.
- Children's Services.
- Council Tax.
- Council Tax Benefit.
- Disability Living Allowance.
- Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency.
- Electoral Services.
- Employment and Support Allowance.
- Housing Benefit.
- Identity and Passport Service.
- Incapacity Benefit.
- Income Support.
- Jobseeker's Allowance.
- Library Services.
- Pension Credit.
- Personal Taxation.
- State Pension.
Information you will need to use the service
- Their National Insurance number and date of birth.
- Details of any benefits or services they were getting.
- Their Driving Licence or Driving Licence number.
- Their Passport or Passport number.
They may also ask you for information about:
- Their next of kin.
- Any surviving husband, wife or civil partner.
- The person dealing with their estate.
You must get the agreement of the persons listed above, before you give information about them.