I
Statutory
5 days
Register the death
England and Wales. Eight days in Scotland. The registrar starts Tell Us Once here.
Report a death once. Government hears it everywhere.
Tell Us Once is a free gov.uk service. You report a death a single time and it is passed to 13 government bodies and your local council at once — HMRC, DWP, the Passport Office, DVLA, Veterans UK and more — instead of writing to each one separately. This page walks the service screen by screen, shows where every detail comes from, and then hands you the list of who it does not reach, so nothing slips.
✓ Official source checked 23 August 2026 · GOV.UK last updated that page 2 December 2024What to do after someone dies on GOV.UK
What it is
A free gov.uk service — report a death once, to many departments
Who needs it
Next of kin or executor, with the registrar's reference number
Our part
The service walked through — and the gaps it leaves, named — free
There is no form to download
Tell Us Once is a service, not a form. The registrar gives you a reference number and you complete it online or by phone.
Start Tell Us Once →Boundary
This is a companion to the official service, not the service itself. Tell Us Once is completed on gov.uk/tell-us-once, with the registrar at the death registration, or by phone — Valoren does not intermediate it.
The service covers England, Scotland and Wales only. Northern Ireland is not covered — there, agencies are notified individually via nidirect.gov.uk. It reaches government bodies only; banks, insurers and private pensions are not included (see the outstanding list below).
The service covers England, Scotland and Wales only. Northern Ireland is not covered — there, agencies are notified individually via nidirect.gov.uk. It reaches government bodies only; banks, insurers and private pensions are not included (see the outstanding list below).
What this can save
The hard part is rarely one form. It is reporting the same death to office after office.
0 in one go
Bodies reached
One report reaches 13 named government bodies and your local council at once — instead of contacting each separately.
0–0 → 0 min
Time on the service
A first run gathering documents can take 60–90 minutes. With the death certificate, NI number and the rest already to hand, it is closer to twenty.
One report
Not a dozen calls
The same details, entered once, rather than repeated down the phone to office after office in the worst week to be doing it.
The easiest report is the one your records have already prepared.
The route — what happens, and when
One reference number opens the whole service.
One report · 13 bodies told
What you have ready, then one report. Here is who gets told.
The single report fans out to 13 named government bodies and your local council. Each one acts on it independently — closing records, stopping payments, updating titles. You write to none of them yourself.
HMRC
Personal tax record updated; Child Benefit / Tax Credits closed.
DWP
State Pension and benefits stopped; any over- or under-payment reconciled.
HM Passport Office
The British passport is cancelled electronically.
DVLA
Driving licence cancelled; keeper record closed on up to five vehicles.
Your local council
Council Tax, Housing Benefit, Blue Badge and the electoral register.
Veterans UK
War Pension and Armed Forces Compensation Scheme records updated.
Social Security Scotland
Scottish benefits — Adult Disability Payment and others.
Five public-sector pensions
Armed Forces · NHS · Scottish Public Pension Agency · PPF/FAS · Local Government.
The five public-sector pension schemes are the Armed Forces Pension Scheme, NHS Pensions, the Scottish Public Pension Agency, the Pension Protection Fund / Financial Assistance Scheme, and the Local Government Pension Scheme. Private and most workplace pensions are not among them — they appear on the outstanding list further down.
The service, screen by screen
Seven screens. The online service walks through them in this order.
The screens vary a little with the deceased's circumstances, but the shape below is what the service asks — what to enter, where each detail comes from, and the points that catch families out. The phone route follows the same questions with an adviser.
Section 1
Before you start — access and eligibility
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Where your reference number comes from
When you register the death at the register office, the registrar either completes Tell Us Once with you in the appointment, or hands you a letter with a unique reference number. If they complete it with you, the government-agency notifications are done. If they give you a reference number, you complete it yourself at gov.uk/tell-us-once or by phone.
The 28-day window
The reference number is valid for 28 days from the date the registrar issues it — not 28 days from the date of death. If you miss the window, call the DWP Bereavement Service (0800 731 0469) to request a new reference or to notify agencies manually. Most agencies are understanding about short delays.
Eligibility — who is covered
Tell Us Once applies when the deceased was living in England, Scotland, or Wales at the time of death, including those who died temporarily abroad. Northern Ireland residents are not covered; you must notify agencies individually. People who were permanently living abroad at the time of death are also excluded.
Deaths referred to a coroner
If the death has been reported to a coroner and the coroner has issued an interim death certificate, you can still request a Tell Us Once reference number — ask the registrar or coroner's office. You do not have to wait for the final death certificate to use the service.
Who can complete the service
Anyone acting on behalf of the deceased — next of kin, executor, or administrator. You will be asked to provide your own contact details as the 'person reporting the death'. You need consent from any surviving spouse or civil partner before entering their details into the service.
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GOV.UK · TELL US ONCE
Section 2
About the person who died
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Full name, date of birth, date of death
Enter exactly as shown on the death certificate — including any middle names. Surname-only matching issues are the most common source of agency confusion. Date of death must be the date on the certificate, not the date the body was discovered.
Last permanent address
The address where the deceased was living at the time of death. This determines which local council is notified. If the deceased was in a hospital, nursing home, or hospice at the time of death, enter the last home address — not the institution address — unless they had formally given up their home.
National Insurance number
Required for DWP, HMRC, and pension-scheme notifications. It is on the deceased's payslips, P60, tax letters, or pension correspondence. If you cannot find it, HMRC's Bereavement Helpline (0300 200 3300) can help trace it. Without it, some agencies may not be able to match records and will follow up separately.
British passport number and town of birth
Required only if the deceased held a valid British passport. The passport number is on the photo page (top right). Town of birth is also on the photo page. If the passport was lost or previously cancelled, leave these blank — the Passport Office will use name and date-of-birth matching. Surrendering a cancelled passport is not required through this service.
Driving licence number
The long 16-character number on the front of the photocard licence (begins with the first five letters of the surname). Required to cancel the driving licence via DVLA. If the licence was already surrendered, revoked, or never held, leave blank. DVLA will also cancel vehicle-keeper records for up to five vehicles using details entered in the next step.
Up to five vehicle registration numbers
Enter registration marks for any vehicles the deceased was registered as keeper of. DVLA will update the keeper record and cancel vehicle excise duty on each. Note: this closes the keeper record only — it does NOT transfer ownership. If the estate is selling or keeping a vehicle, a separate DVLA notification (V5C update) is required after probate.
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GOV.UK · TELL US ONCE
Section 3
Benefits, State Pension, and local council services
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State Pension and DWP benefits
Tick which DWP benefits were in payment: State Pension (new or basic), Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Attendance Allowance, Employment and Support Allowance, Jobseeker's Allowance, Carer's Allowance, or other. DWP will stop payments and calculate any overpayments or arrears owed. Overpayments of State Pension can be reclaimed from the estate.
HMRC — Child Benefit and Tax Credits
If the deceased was receiving Child Benefit or Working Tax Credit / Child Tax Credit, tick yes. HMRC will close those claims. Note: if the deceased's partner was also claiming, the partner needs to update their own claim separately. Tell Us Once cannot update a surviving person's benefits — only the deceased's records.
Local council services
Enter the name of the local council that served the deceased's address. The service notifies the council to cancel: Housing Benefit, Council Tax Reduction, Blue Badge (parking permit — badge number required if known), bus or travel pass, and any Adult Social Care services. The council also removes the deceased from the electoral register automatically.
Blue Badge
If the deceased held a Blue Badge, enter the badge number (on the front of the badge) or the badge reference from council correspondence. Unreturned badges that are not cancelled can be misused; the council cancellation via Tell Us Once prevents this. Physically returning or destroying the badge is still good practice but not legally required via this route.
Armed Forces Compensation Scheme / Veterans UK
If the deceased was receiving a War Pension, Armed Forces Compensation Scheme payment, or any other Veterans UK benefit, tick yes. Veterans UK will update the record and contact the estate regarding any arrears or survivor benefits the spouse may be entitled to.
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GOV.UK · TELL US ONCE
Section 4
Public-sector pension schemes
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Which schemes are covered
The five schemes Tell Us Once contacts are: (1) Armed Forces Pension Scheme; (2) NHS Pensions — for NHS employees in England and Wales (Scottish NHS staff are covered via the Scottish Public Pension Agency); (3) Scottish Public Pension Agency — NHS Scotland, teachers, police and firefighters in Scotland; (4) Pension Protection Fund and Financial Assistance Scheme — for members of failed defined-benefit private schemes now in the PPF or FAS; (5) Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) — for council and other local government employees.
What to enter for each scheme
For each applicable scheme, tick yes. The service passes the deceased's name, NI number, and date of death to the scheme; the scheme then writes to the executor about any pension in payment, death-in-service benefit, or survivor pension owed to a spouse or dependants. You do not need the pension reference number at this stage, though it speeds things up if you have it.
Pension Protection Fund / Financial Assistance Scheme
These apply if the deceased was a member of a private-sector defined-benefit pension scheme whose employer went insolvent and the scheme was taken over by the PPF or FAS. If you are unsure, check recent pension correspondence or the PPF's pension tracing service (pensiontracing.service.gov.uk). Tell Us Once will notify them if you tick yes.
Private and workplace pensions — NOT covered here
Any pension held with a private insurer (Aviva, Legal & General, Standard Life, Nest, The People's Pension, Royal London, and so on) is NOT notified by Tell Us Once. You must contact each scheme separately. The Pension Tracing Service (0800 731 0193 or gov.uk/find-pension-contact-details) can help identify schemes the deceased may have forgotten. This is one of the most common gaps families discover after submitting Tell Us Once.
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GOV.UK · TELL US ONCE
Section 5
Surviving spouse, next of kin, and the estate's contact
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Surviving spouse or civil partner
If the deceased had a surviving spouse or civil partner, enter: full name, current address, phone number, and either National Insurance number or date of birth. This is required so DWP and HMRC can update survivor-benefit records and write to the right person about State Pension, Bereavement Support Payment, or tax affairs. You must have their permission before entering their details.
Next of kin (if no surviving spouse)
If there is no surviving spouse or civil partner, enter the next of kin's full name and address. The service uses this as the contact address for any agency correspondence about the deceased's records. If an executor who is not the next of kin is dealing with the estate, enter them as the estate contact (see below) instead.
Executor or administrator
Enter the full name, address, and contact details of the person dealing with the estate. If a solicitor is acting, enter the solicitor's name and the firm address. Agencies write here about outstanding tax, repayments, and probate-related matters. If you do not yet have a grant of probate, you can still complete Tell Us Once — it does not require the grant.
Institution where the death occurred
If the death occurred in a hospital, hospice, nursing home, or care home, enter the name and address of that institution. This is used by DWP and the local council to update any residential-care or hospital-stay records.
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GOV.UK · TELL US ONCE
Section 6
Review, submit, and what happens next
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The summary screen
You see a confirmation page listing each agency that will receive a notification and what will happen — for example, 'HMRC: personal tax records updated and Child Benefit claim closed'. Check every agency shown matches the deceased's actual circumstances. If something is wrong, use the 'Change' links to go back before submitting.
Submitting
Choose 'Send notifications'. The service submits simultaneously to all listed agencies. You receive an on-screen confirmation and optionally an email summary. Print or save the confirmation — it is your evidence of notification if any agency later claims they were not informed.
What agencies do next
Each agency independently processes the notification and writes to the estate contact. HMRC typically writes within 4 weeks about any outstanding tax or refund. DWP writes within 6–8 weeks about benefits, overpayments, and Bereavement Support Payment eligibility. Pension schemes may take longer if they need to verify membership. If you have heard nothing after 8 weeks, contact the agency directly using the reference from your confirmation.
Bereavement Support Payment — TUO does not start the claim
Tell Us Once notifies DWP that the death has occurred — but it does NOT make a claim for Bereavement Support Payment (BSP) on behalf of the surviving spouse. The surviving spouse must make a separate BSP claim within 21 months of the date of death (form BSP1 on gov.uk). Missing the deadline can mean losing up to 18 monthly payments — one of the most costly oversights families make.
Saving your progress
The online service does not reliably save progress between sessions. If you need to stop mid-way, note any session-save option presented, or start again with your reference number — it can be re-used within the 28-day window.
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GOV.UK · TELL US ONCE
Section W
What Tell Us Once does NOT cover — the outstanding list
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Banks, building societies, and mortgage providers
Every bank and savings account must be notified directly by the executor. The free Death Notification Service (deathnotificationservice.co.uk), accepted by most major UK banks, notifies multiple banks in one submission. Mortgage providers must be contacted separately; the mortgage does not pause automatically on death.
Insurance companies
Life, critical-illness, home, vehicle and travel policies must all be notified individually. Life insurance claims must be made within the policy's claim-notification period — often 30 days, sometimes 6 months. Missing the window risks a claim being declined on procedural grounds, though insurers have discretion. Term policies with named beneficiaries fall outside the estate and do not pass through probate.
Private and workplace pensions
Any pension not in the five public-sector schemes in Screen 4 — including Nest, The People's Pension, Aviva, Legal & General, Standard Life, Royal London, employer occupational schemes, and personal SIPPs — must be contacted individually. Use the Pension Tracing Service (gov.uk/find-pension-contact-details or 0800 731 0193) to identify all schemes. Defined-benefit occupational pensions may pay a survivor's pension, which requires a separate application.
Utility companies and subscriptions
Gas, electricity, water, broadband, mobile phone and TV subscriptions must all be cancelled or transferred by the executor — these companies have no link to Tell Us Once. Cancelling a direct debit at the bank does not substitute for formal notification; final bills must be settled. Streaming and subscription services continue billing until cancelled.
Student Loans Company
If the deceased had a student loan, notify the Student Loans Company directly. In England and Wales, student loans are written off on death; the SLC confirms this in writing and that no repayment is owed from the estate. Provide the death certificate. The SLC does not receive Tell Us Once notifications.
HMRC — business taxes (VAT, estate self-assessment, employer PAYE)
Tell Us Once notifies HMRC about the deceased's personal tax record. It does NOT close a self-employed business, VAT registration, or employer PAYE scheme. If the deceased was self-employed or a company director, contact HMRC separately (Bereavement line 0300 200 3300) or submit the relevant forms. A final self-assessment return is required for the tax year of death.
HM Land Registry — property title
If the deceased owned land or property, the title at HM Land Registry must be updated or transferred once probate is granted — Tell Us Once does not contact the Land Registry. Property held as joint tenants (most married couples) passes by survivorship and uses a Form DJP; property held as tenants in common passes through the estate and needs an Assent (Form AS1) after probate.
DVLA — vehicle sale or transfer to a new keeper
Tell Us Once removes the deceased as the registered keeper, but does NOT transfer the vehicle to a new owner. Once the estate decides to sell or keep a vehicle, the V5C logbook must be updated via DVLA: sell to a third party using the V5C tear-off, or register it in your own name using the full V5C. Until then, the deceased's name remains on the logbook.
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GOV.UK · TELL US ONCE
Prepare the record before the report
What the service asks for. Have these in front of you before you start.
Almost all of the time on Tell Us Once goes on finding these — not entering them. The National Insurance number is the usual sticking point. Gather them once and the report takes minutes.
The death certificate
Opens the serviceThe deceased's NI number
DWP · HMRC · pensionsBritish passport number + town of birth
HM Passport OfficeDriving licence number
DVLAUp to five vehicle registrations
DVLA keeper recordWhich benefits were in payment
DWP · Social Security ScotlandThe local council + any Blue Badge
Council servicesSurviving spouse + executor details
Who agencies write toThe easiest report is the one your records have already prepared.
Valoren records the National Insurance number, the passport and licence details, the vehicles and the people to contact before they are ever needed — so when someone sits down to report a death, the answers are already to hand.
Free public helplines
0800 731 0469The DWP Bereavement Service — notify benefits by phone, or request a new reference number if the 28-day window has passed.
0300 200 3300HMRC's Bereavement Helpline — can trace a missing National Insurance number.
What it does not reach
Tell Us Once reaches government only. Everything here is still on you.
Many families submit Tell Us Once and believe the job is done. It isn't. The organisations below never hear from the service — the executor must close each one separately. This is the outstanding list to keep.
Banks, building societies and mortgage providers
Insurers — life, home, vehicle, travel
Private and workplace pensions
Utilities and subscriptions
The Student Loans Company
HMRC business taxes (VAT, PAYE, the estate's self-assessment)
HM Land Registry — the property title
DVLA — selling or transferring a vehicle
For banks, the free Death Notification Service (deathnotificationservice.co.uk) reaches most major UK banks in one submission. For pensions the deceased may have forgotten, the Pension Tracing Service (gov.uk/find-pension-contact-details) can help. And a separate Bereavement Support Payment claim — form BSP1 — must be made by a surviving spouse within 21 months; Tell Us Once does not start it.
Free and official
Tell Us Once costs nothing and is run by gov.uk. No third party should charge to submit it for you. You can complete it online, with the registrar, or by phone. This page is a companion to that service — Valoren never sits between you and the government.
Covered in this guide
- 13 government bodies, each named
- Seven screens, in the service order
- Records to have ready, bridged to what they feed
- The outstanding list — who is still on you
Not in this guide
- The report itselfCompleted on gov.uk, with the registrar, or by phone
- Banks, insurers, pensions, utilitiesThe outstanding list — close each one separately
- Bereavement Support Payment (BSP1)Separate claim — 21-month deadline from date of death
Known limits
- This is a companion, not the service. Tell Us Once is completed on gov.uk, with the registrar, or by phone — Valoren does not submit it for you.
- It covers England, Scotland and Wales only. Northern Ireland is not covered; there, agencies are notified individually via nidirect.gov.uk.
- The bodies, the screens and the timings are gov.uk / DWP references and can change. Confirm the current details on gov.uk before you report.
● The next step
With the details to hand, the report is the short part.
Reporting a death is mostly gathering — the certificate, the National Insurance number, the passport and licence numbers, the vehicles, the people to contact. With those ready, Tell Us Once takes minutes. Prepare the records first; then make the free report on the gov.uk service.