Tell Us Once: Report a Death to Government in One Step

Tell Us Once is a free government service that lets you report a death to most national and local government organisations with a single notification. It saves hours of phone calls and paperwork during an already difficult time.

Free

No cost to use

28 days

Deadline to use it

Departments notified

Online

Or by phone

Tell Us Once is available in England, Wales, and Scotland. It is not available in Northern Ireland, where you need to contact each department separately. See our Northern Ireland guide for what to do instead.

What does Tell Us Once do?

Tell Us Once notifies the DWP (state pension and benefits), HMRC (tax and National Insurance), DVLA (driving licence), HM Passport Office, your local council (council tax, electoral roll, Blue Badge, library cards, housing benefit), and public sector pension schemes (NHS, Teachers, Civil Service, Armed Forces, Police, Fire). It does not cover banks, building societies, utility companies, insurance providers, or private pensions.

How do I use Tell Us Once?

The registrar gives you a unique reference number when you register the death. Use this number at gov.uk/tell-us-once or call 0800 085 7308 within 28 days. You will need the person's National Insurance number, benefit details, and driving licence or passport numbers if available.

How to use Tell Us Once: step by step

Register the death

Book an appointment at the register office in the area where the person died. In England and Wales, you have 5 days; in Scotland, 8 days. The registrar will explain Tell Us Once and give you a reference number at the appointment.

Gather the information you need

Before using Tell Us Once, collect the person's National Insurance number, details of any benefits or tax credits they received, their driving licence number, their passport number, and details of any council services they used. You do not need all of these, but having them speeds up the process.

Use it online or by phone

Go to gov.uk/tell-us-once (available 24 hours) or call 0800 085 7308 (Monday to Friday 8am-8pm, Saturday 9am-4pm). Enter your reference number and follow the prompts. The online process takes around 15 minutes.

Complete within 28 days

You must use the service within 28 days of getting the reference number. If you miss this deadline, you will need to contact each government department individually, which takes considerably longer.

What information you need

Gather as much of the following as you can before starting. You do not need every item, but it helps:

Your Tell Us Once reference number (from the registrar)
The deceased person's National Insurance number
Details of any benefits or tax credits they received
Their driving licence number
Their passport number
Council tax account number
Blue Badge details (if they had one)
Details of any public sector pension (NHS, Teachers, Civil Service, Armed Forces)

What Tell Us Once covers

DWP: All benefits: State Pension, Universal Credit, PIP, Attendance Allowance, ESA, Carer's Allowance, and more
HMRC: Income tax, National Insurance, tax credits
DVLA: Driving licence cancellation
HM Passport Office: Passport cancellation
Local council: Council tax, electoral register, Blue Badge, library cards, housing benefit
Public sector pensions: NHS, Teachers, Civil Service, Armed Forces, Police, Fire
Veterans UK: Armed Forces compensation and pension schemes

What you still need to do yourself

Important: Tell Us Once handles government departments only. There is a long list of private organisations you need to contact yourself. Our template letters can save you time, or use the complete notification list with contact details for each one.

Banks and building societies: Use the free Death Notification Service at deathnotificationservice.co.uk to notify multiple banks at once
Private and workplace pensions: Check for death-in-service benefits through the employer too
Insurance companies: Life, home, car, travel, and pet insurance
Mortgage lender: Check whether the mortgage had life insurance attached
Utility companies: Gas, electricity, water. Transfer to surviving occupant or close the account
Phone and broadband providers: Cancel or transfer contracts. You may be entitled to exit without penalty
TV Licensing: Cancel or transfer. Refunds are available for unused months
GP surgery and NHS dentist: Notify so records can be updated
Employer: Ask about outstanding salary, holiday pay, and death-in-service benefits
Landlord or housing association: Give appropriate notice. Check tenancy terms for your rights
Subscriptions: Streaming, gym, magazines, charities, breakdown cover
Royal Mail: Set up post redirection (from £37 for 3 months). This catches mail from organisations you may not know about
Social media and email: Facebook and Instagram can be memorialised or deleted. Google has an Inactive Account Manager

Related: See our step-by-step guide for the full process after a death. Use template letters to notify banks and utility companies. Browse our phone directory for contact numbers, or check what benefits you may be entitled to.

Common questions about Tell Us Once

What is Tell Us Once?

Tell Us Once is a free government service that lets you report a death to most national and local government organisations in a single notification. It saves you contacting each department individually. It is available in England, Wales, and Scotland, but not in Northern Ireland.

How do I get a Tell Us Once reference number?

The registrar gives you a Tell Us Once reference number when you register the death. You cannot use the service without this number. If you forget to ask, contact the register office afterwards and they can provide it.

Can I use Tell Us Once online?

Yes. You can use it online at gov.uk/tell-us-once or by calling 0800 085 7308. The online service is available 24 hours a day. The phone line is open Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm, and Saturday 9am to 4pm.

What happens if I miss the 28-day deadline?

If you miss the 28-day deadline, you will need to contact each government department individually. The registrar may be able to issue a new reference number in some cases, but this is not guaranteed. It is worth contacting the register office to ask.

Does Tell Us Once notify banks?

No. Tell Us Once only covers government departments and public sector pension schemes. It does not notify banks, building societies, private pension providers, insurers, utility companies, or any private organisations. You need to contact all of these yourself.

Is Tell Us Once available in Northern Ireland?

No. Tell Us Once is not available in Northern Ireland. If the death occurred in Northern Ireland, you need to contact each government department and council service individually. The registrar can advise you on who to contact.

What information do I need to use Tell Us Once?

You need the Tell Us Once reference number from the registrar, the deceased person's National Insurance number (if known), details of any benefits or tax credits they received, their driving licence number, their passport number, and details of any local council services they used (council tax, Blue Badge, library cards, etc.).

Does Tell Us Once stop benefit payments automatically?

Yes. Tell Us Once notifies the DWP, which will stop benefits paid to the deceased person. If you are a surviving spouse or partner, your own benefits will not be affected, but you may need to contact the DWP separately about changes to your household income or claiming Bereavement Support Payment.

Get a complete list of who to contact

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Important

This information is for general guidance only. It is not legal, financial, or tax advice. Laws and regulations change. Always verify current details with the relevant authority. This guide covers England and Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland have different rules. Last reviewed: March 2026. If you spot an error, please contact us. See our editorial policy.