Tell Us Once Service helps bereaved
The idea behind Tell Us Once is simple.
One notification of the death for all the relevant central and local government departments and services. The benefits to those who use it are huge. The bereaved no longer need to worry about erroneously receiving their deceased loved one’s pensions, only to have to pay back the money at a later stage. They also save money which would otherwise have been spent on duplicate death certificates and phone calls and letters to the various authorities. Tell Us Once helps lighten the load at a time when you need the most support.
The loss of a parent is a devastating time in anyone’s life. Regardless of whether it’s anticipated or unexpected, it is a time of great personal upheaval that presents us with challenges and emotions that we can never truly plan for.
It’s also one of those occasions when people – often the sons and daughters of the deceased – must deal directly with central and local government. Typically this has involved a lot of paperwork and red tape.
How do I know if it’s available in my area?
About 90% of local authorities in England, Scotland and Wales offer the service. If your local authority is one of them, the registrar will offer it when you register the death. It’s entirely voluntary but most people find it extremely useful.
How does it work?
It is compulsory to register all deaths. Registration must be completed and the unique Tell Us Once reference number must be issued before the Tell Us Once service can be used.
Tell Us Once is accessed by a face to face interview in the local authority, by phone or by using the on-line service on the gov.uk website.
If you choose the face to face interview, the member of staff will talk you through a simple process to find out which central and local government departments need to be notified. This notification will be sent through automatically on your behalf and you will be provided with a confirmation letter to keep for your records.
For those who may find a face to face interview too difficult, you can choose to use the service by phone or online. Once the death has been registered, you will be provided with the contact details and a unique reference number to allow you to complete the process by calling the Tell Us Once telephone advisers or on the gov.uk website.
What information will you be asked for?
It’s important that you take all of the relevant documentation to your Tell Us Once interview. Many people find it helps to talk to your parent while they are still alive about keeping the information in one place, so that it is easy to access for those dealing with the estate after their passing. After all, you are likely to be very stressed and upset and will probably not feel like searching through a lot of papers to get what you need to help settle official matters. If you are attending a Tell Us Once interview, you will need to take (if appropriate):
The deceased’s:
- National Insurance Number and date of birth
- Passport or Passport Number and town/country of birth
- Driving Licence or Driving Licence number
- Details of any benefits or services they were receiving such as State Pensions or Disability benefits
- Blue Badge
- Their death certificate (if not taking up the service at the time of registration)
- Any concessionary travel pass they may hold
You might also be asked for the contact details for:
- Their next of kin
- A surviving husband, wife or civil partner
- The person dealing with their estate
If you are the next of kin, your entitlement to benefits may change, so please have your own National Insurance Number and/or date of birth with you when using the service.
If you are not the next of kin, or the person who is dealing with the deceased’s estate, you can still use the service as long as you have the permission from these people to act on their behalf and to provide information about them.
Which services are notified?
LOCAL AUTHORITY
- Library Services
- Housing Benefit
- Council Tax Benefit
- Adult Services
- Blue Badge Scheme
- Electoral Services
- Council Housing
- Council Tax
- Money owed to council
- Concessionary travel pass
DWP
- Incapacity Benefit / Employment Support Allowance
- Income Support;
- Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Bereavement Benefit
- State Pension
- Pension Credit
- Attendance Allowance
- Disability Living Allowance
- Carer’s Allowance
- Overseas Health team
- Universal Credit
- Personal Independence Payment
- Armed Forces Personal Independence Payment
HMRC
- Working Tax Credit
- Child Tax Credit
- Child Benefit
- Personal Taxation
IDENTITY AND PASSPORT SERVICE
- UK passport
DVLA
- Driving Licence
SERVICE PERSONNEL AND VETERANS AGENCY
- War Pensions Scheme
More information is available at Tell Us Once
