Tell Us Once
Tell Us Once
Easing the administrative burden at a difficult time
At a time when even small things can feel hard, the UK government’s Tell Us Once service is designed to make, at least some of, the long list practical tasks that need doing a little easier to manage.
It is a free service that allows you to report a death to multiple government departments at the same time. Instead of contacting each organisation separately, you share the information once and it is passed on for you.
The service can notify departments such as:
- HM Revenue and Customs
- The Department for Work and Pensions
- The Passport Office
- The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency
- Local councils
Get help from
Tell Us Once
When can you use Tell Us Once?
You can usually use Tell Us Once after the death has been registered.
The registrar will normally give you a Tell Us Once reference number at your appointment, or explain how to access the service online or by phone.
There is no strict deadline, but it is generally best to use the service as soon as you feel able. If you are not ready straight away, that is completely okay.
You have 28 days from registering the death to use the unique reference number provided.
What information will you need?
Before you start, it can help to gather some details. Please do not worry if you do not have everything, as you can still use the service even if some information is missing.
You may be asked for the deceased person’s National Insurance number, their date of birth and date of death, their address, and details of any benefits or pensions they received. If they were receiving benefits for someone else, such as a carer, you may be asked about this too.
When you feel ready…
You can find the Tell Us Once service and start the process online using the link below. Take your time, and remember you can pause and come back to it whenever you need to.
If it feels hard, that is normal
Using Tell Us Once can feel emotional. Seeing a loved one’s details written down can bring up feelings you might not expect.
You do not have to do everything in one go, and you do not have to do it alone. A trusted friend or family member can sit with you while you complete it, or help with the follow up tasks.
Tell Us Once cannot take away the pain of losing someone, but it can remove some of the administrative weight during a difficult time. Take things at your own pace, and remember that needing help is not a failure.