Tell Us Once: Notifying Organisations After a Death
After a bereavement, notifying every organisation can feel overwhelming. The Tell Us Once service lets you inform multiple government departments in a single step — but banks, insurers, and utilities must be contacted separately.
Free
Tell Us Once is a free government service
28 days
To use your unique reference number
6+
Government departments notified in one step
6–10
Death certificates recommended to order
Start with Tell Us Once — then work through the private sector
The Tell Us Once service is the best starting point for reporting a bereavement to government departments. The registrar will provide a unique reference number when you register the death. Use it within 28 days. After that, work through banks, insurers, utilities, and other private organisations — many of which have their own bereavement teams and simplified notification processes.
Government Departments
What Does Tell Us Once Cover?
The Tell Us Once service notifies the following government departments and agencies simultaneously, using the unique reference number provided by the registrar when you register the death.
Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
Stops state pension payments immediately to prevent overpayment, handles bereavement notification, and processes any bereavement benefits the surviving family may be entitled to.
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)
Sorts out the deceased's tax affairs after death — including any outstanding income tax, capital gains tax, and national insurance contributions. HMRC will also update their records to prevent future tax demands.
DVLA
Cancels the deceased's driving licence and, if applicable, their vehicle registration. The DVLA will also arrange for any vehicle tax refund owed to the estate.
Passport Office
Cancels the deceased's passport to prevent fraudulent use. You will need to return the physical passport document.
Local council
Updates council tax records, stops any council tax reduction or benefit, and can arrange for a council tax exemption on an empty property during the probate period.
Student Loans Company
Cancels any outstanding student loan debt — student loans in England and Wales are written off on death and do not form part of the estate.
Private Organisations
Who Else Do You Need to Notify?
Tell Us Once covers government departments only. The following private organisations must be contacted separately — many have dedicated bereavement teams to help you through the process.
Banks & building societies
Notify all banks and building societies where the deceased held accounts. Use the free Death Notification Service (a UK platform) to notify multiple banks simultaneously rather than contacting each one individually.
Mortgage provider
Notify the mortgage lender immediately. They will freeze the account and advise on next steps — whether the property is to be sold, transferred to a beneficiary, or the mortgage taken over by a surviving joint borrower.
Insurance companies
Contact all insurers — life insurance, home insurance, car insurance, and any other policies. Life insurance policies may pay out directly to named beneficiaries outside the estate.
Utility companies
Contact energy, water, and broadband providers to transfer or close accounts. Utilities continue to accrue until the property is sold or transferred — these are debts of the estate.
Pension providers
Notify all private and workplace pension providers. Pension death benefits are usually paid to nominated beneficiaries outside the estate — providers will ask for an Expression of Wish form or nomination details.
Subscription services
Cancel any ongoing subscriptions — streaming services, gym memberships, magazine subscriptions, and mobile phone contracts. These continue to charge until cancelled.
Death Notification Service: Rather than calling every bank individually, use the free Death Notification Service — a UK platform that allows you to notify multiple banks and building societies simultaneously. This is separate from the government's Tell Us Once service.
Practical Guidance
Practical Tips for Executors
Managing notifications after a bereavement is time-consuming but essential. These practical steps will help you stay organised and protect the estate.
Order multiple death certificates
Banks, insurers, and other organisations often require original or certified copies of the death certificate. Order at least 6–10 copies when registering the death — it is cheaper to order them all at once than to request additional copies later.
Gather paperwork immediately
Locate the original Will, gather recent bank statements, utility bills, insurance documents, and the deceased's National Insurance number. Having these to hand will speed up every notification.
Stop unwanted mail
Register with the Bereavement Register to prevent distressing junk mail and marketing post from arriving at the property. This is a free service that notifies hundreds of companies simultaneously.
Manage social media accounts
Platforms like Facebook and Instagram allow you to either memorialise or permanently delete accounts upon providing proof of death. Check each platform's bereavement policy.
Secure the property
If the deceased lived alone, secure the property immediately — change locks if necessary, maintain insurance (notify the insurer of the unoccupied status), and redirect post.
Keep a notification log
Keep a written record of every organisation you have contacted, the date, the reference number, and the name of the person you spoke to. This protects you if disputes arise later.
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FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Tell Us Once service?
Tell Us Once is a free UK government service that allows you to notify multiple government departments of a death simultaneously, using a single unique reference number provided by the registrar when you register the death. It notifies the DWP, HMRC, DVLA, Passport Office, local council, and other government bodies in one step.
How do I access the Tell Us Once service?
When you register the death with the local register office, the registrar will give you a unique reference number and instructions for accessing the Tell Us Once service — either online or by telephone. You must use this reference number within 28 days of receiving it.
Does Tell Us Once notify banks and private companies?
No. Tell Us Once only covers government departments and local authorities. You will need to notify banks, building societies, insurance companies, utility providers, and other private organisations separately. The Death Notification Service (a free UK platform) can help you notify multiple banks simultaneously.
What is the Death Notification Service?
The Death Notification Service is a free UK platform that allows you to notify multiple banks and building societies of a death simultaneously, rather than contacting each one individually. It is separate from the government's Tell Us Once service and covers the private financial sector.
What information do I need to notify organisations after a death?
You will typically need: the deceased's full name and date of death, their National Insurance number, original or certified copies of the death certificate, proof of your own identity and address, and relevant account details (account numbers, policy numbers, etc.). Having the original Will to hand is also helpful.
How many death certificates should I order?
Order at least 6–10 copies when registering the death. Banks, insurers, mortgage lenders, and other organisations often require original or certified copies — not photocopies. It is significantly cheaper to order multiple copies at the time of registration than to request additional copies later.
What happens to state pension payments after death?
State pension payments must be stopped immediately after death to prevent overpayment. The Tell Us Once service notifies the DWP, which will stop payments and calculate whether any overpayment needs to be repaid by the estate. Any arrears owed to the deceased at the date of death can be claimed by the estate.
Do I need to notify HMRC when someone dies?
Yes. HMRC must be notified of the death so they can update their records, close the deceased's self-assessment account if applicable, and deal with any outstanding tax affairs. The Tell Us Once service handles this notification automatically. The executor will then need to deal with any outstanding tax liabilities as part of the estate administration.
What should I do about the deceased's social media accounts?
Most major platforms allow you to either memorialise the account (preserving it as a memorial) or permanently delete it upon providing proof of death. Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter/X all have bereavement policies. Check each platform's help centre for their specific process.
How do I stop junk mail being sent to the deceased?
Register with the Bereavement Register (a free service) to notify hundreds of companies simultaneously and stop marketing mail. This prevents distressing junk mail from arriving at the property and reduces the risk of identity fraud using the deceased's details.
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