Losing a loved one is difficult enough without having to contact dozens of government departments and organisations individually.
Many people are unaware that the UK Government offers a free service called Tell Us Once, designed to reduce paperwork and save time during an already stressful period.
Instead of notifying multiple government departments separately, you can often report the death just once, and the information will be shared with the relevant organisations on your behalf.
What is Tell Us Once?
Tell Us Once is a free UK Government service that allows you to notify several government departments and local council services when someone dies.
https://www.gov.uk/when-someone-dies
Rather than contacting each organisation individually, you provide the information once, and the service passes it on where applicable.
This can help with things such as:
- State Pension
- Pension Credit
- Universal Credit
- Driving licence records
- Passport records
- Council Tax
- Blue Badge permits
- Housing Benefit
- Electoral Register
- Other local council services
The exact services notified can vary depending on the person’s circumstances and where they lived.
Who can use Tell Us Once?
You can usually use the service if:
- You are the next of kin
- You are the executor of the estate
- You are arranging the funeral
- You have permission to act on behalf of the deceased
In most cases, the registrar will either:
- complete the Tell Us Once process with you, or
- provide a unique reference number so you can complete it yourself online or by phone.
What information will you need?
Before starting, it helps to have:
- The deceased person’s National Insurance number
- Date of birth
- Driving licence number (if applicable)
- Passport number (if applicable)
- Details of any surviving spouse or civil partner
- Contact details for the executor or person dealing with the estate
Don’t worry if you don’t have every piece of information. You can still begin the process and provide what you know.
How does Tell Us Once work?
Step 1: Register the death
The death must first be registered through the usual process.
Step 2: Receive a Tell Us Once reference
The registrar will normally provide a reference number if the service is available in that area.
Step 3: Complete the notification
You can then use the Tell Us Once service online or by telephone.
Step 4: Government departments are informed
The service shares the information with participating government departments and local authority services.
This means fewer phone calls, fewer letters, and less administration during a difficult time.
Is Tell Us Once mandatory?
No.
You can still contact organisations individually if you prefer.
However, most people find Tell Us Once significantly easier because it avoids repeating the same information multiple times.
What Tell Us Once does not cover
Although Tell Us Once can notify many government services, you may still need to contact:
- Banks and building societies
- Insurance providers
- Utility companies
- Private pension providers
- Investment platforms
- Subscription services
Many financial institutions now have bereavement teams that can guide you through the process.
Why it is worth knowing about
Many families only discover Tell Us Once after a bereavement.
Knowing that the service exists in advance can make a difficult situation a little less overwhelming and help ensure that important government records are updated correctly.
If you have recently lost someone, it is worth checking whether Tell Us Once is available in your area and using it as early as possible.
Find out more
For full details and eligibility information, visit: