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Reporting a death using the Tell Us Once service

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Reporting a Death Using the Tell Us Once Service

The Tell Us Once service is a government initiative designed to help streamline the process of reporting a death to various government departments. This service is available to residents of the United Kingdom and aims to reduce the burden on grieving families by ensuring that multiple government agencies are informed of the deceased's passing with a single notification.

How to Use the Tell Us Once Service

Once a death has been registered, you will be given a unique reference number that allows you access to the Tell Us Once service. You can use this service either online or by telephone. When using the service, you will need to provide various pieces of information, including the deceased’s personal details, next of kin, and any surviving spouse or civil partner's details.

Information to Provide

To successfully report a death using the Tell Us Once service, you will need to gather and provide the following information:

  • The deceased's National Insurance number.
  • Details of any benefits or entitlements they were receiving, such as pensions or disability allowances.
  • Driver’s licence if they had one.
  • Passport details if applicable.
  • Information about any local council services they were receiving, such as housing benefits or council tax reductions.
  • Their Blue Badge if they held one.
  • Details of any current driving vehicle tax payments.

Departments Informed Through Tell Us Once

The Tell Us Once service will notify the following departments and organizations on your behalf:

  • HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to deal with tax and benefits.
  • Passport Office to cancel their passport.
  • Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) to cancel their driving licence.
  • The local council to update services such as council tax or benefits.
  • Public sector or armed forces pension schemes.

Assistance and Support

Using the Tell Us Once service helps ensure that all relevant parties are notified of the death without requiring multiple calls or appointments, which can be particularly helpful during a difficult time. If you need any assistance or support while using the service, the local registrars can provide guidance. Additionally, further information can be found on the UK government’s official website.

By making use of the Tell Us Once service, you can simplify the administrative process of reporting a death, allowing you to focus on supporting your family and dealing with personal matters.

Reporting a Death Using the Tell Us Once Service

The Tell Us Once service is a way to make telling the government about a death easier. It is for people in the United Kingdom. This service helps families so they don’t have to tell lots of government offices about the death separately. You can tell everyone at once.

How to Use the Tell Us Once Service

After you register a death, you will get a special number. This number lets you use the Tell Us Once service. You can use the service online or by phone. You need to give some information like the person who died's details, their family's details, and their spouse or partner's details.

Information to Provide

To use the Tell Us Once service, you need to collect this information:

  • The person's National Insurance number.
  • Any benefits or allowances they got, like pensions.
  • Their driver's licence if they had one.
  • Their passport details if they had a passport.
  • Any local council services they used, like housing benefits or council tax help.
  • Their Blue Badge if they had one.
  • Details of any vehicle tax payments.

Departments Informed Through Tell Us Once

The Tell Us Once service will tell these departments for you:

  • HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) for tax and benefits.
  • The Passport Office to cancel their passport.
  • The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) to cancel their driving licence.
  • The local council for things like council tax or benefits.
  • Pension schemes for public sector or armed forces.

Assistance and Support

The Tell Us Once service is helpful because it means you only have to notify the government once. This can be a big help at a hard time. If you need help, ask the local registrar. More information is on the UK government’s website.

When you use the Tell Us Once service, you make reporting a death easier. This lets you focus on helping your family and taking care of personal matters.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Tell Us Once service is a program in the United Kingdom that allows you to report a death to most government organizations in a single step.

The service can be used by immediate family members or anyone who is dealing with the deceased person's affairs.

You can access the Tell Us Once service online, by phone, or in person at a registry office.

You will need to provide information including the deceased person's date of birth, National Insurance number, driving licence number, passport number, details of any benefits or social services they were receiving, and the name and address of their next of kin.

Yes, you will need to provide the death certificate when you use the Tell Us Once service.

No, the Tell Us Once service only notifies government organizations. You will need to contact financial institutions and companies separately.

The Tell Us Once service is free of charge.

You should use the Tell Us Once service as soon as possible after the death has been registered.

No, the Tell Us Once service can only be used for deaths registered in the United Kingdom.

Tell Us Once notifies various government organizations including HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), the Passport Office, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), and local councils.

The process typically takes about 30 minutes to complete.

Yes, someone else can complete the Tell Us Once service on your behalf if they have your permission and the necessary information.

If you encounter technical issues, you can use the telephone service or visit a local registry office for assistance.

If you need to amend the information provided, you should contact the specific government organizations directly.

After completing the Tell Us Once service, the relevant government organizations will update their records accordingly and may contact you if they need additional information.

The Tell Us Once service is a program in the United Kingdom. It helps you let most government places know when someone has died, all at once.

This help is for close family and people who are taking care of things after someone has died.

You can use the Tell Us Once service in three ways: online, by phone, or by visiting a registry office.

You need to give some important information about the person who has died. You will need:

  • Their date of birth (when they were born)
  • Their National Insurance number
  • Their driving licence number
  • Their passport number
  • Information about any benefits or social services they got
  • The name and address of their closest family member

You can use a checklist to help you remember everything. You can also ask someone you trust to help you collect this information.

Yes, you need to show the death certificate when you use the Tell Us Once service.

No, the Tell Us Once service only tells government offices. You will have to tell banks and companies yourself.

The Tell Us Once service costs nothing. You do not have to pay.

You should use the Tell Us Once service soon after the death is registered.

You can only use the Tell Us Once service if someone has died in the United Kingdom.

Tell Us Once is a service that helps you tell different government offices about a change. It lets places like HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), the Passport Office, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), and your local council know at the same time.

The process usually takes about 30 minutes to finish.

Yes, someone else can do the Tell Us Once service for you. They need your okay and your information.

If you have problems with technology, you can call for help or go to a nearby office for support.

If you need to change the information, you should talk to the right government groups.

When you finish using the Tell Us Once service, the right government offices will change their records. They might get in touch with you if they need more information.

Important Information On Using This Service


This website offers general information and is not a substitute for professional advice. Always seek guidance from qualified professionals. If you have any medical concerns or need urgent help, contact a healthcare professional or emergency services immediately.

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