How to report a death in the UK using the Tell Us Once service
When a loved one passes away, it can be a challenging time filled with grief and a multitude of responsibilities. One of these responsibilities is reporting the death to various government organisations. In the UK, the government provides a service called "Tell Us Once" to streamline this process. However, if you choose not to use this service or if the person died while living abroad, you'll need to notify the relevant organisations yourself.
What is "Tell Us Once"?
"Tell Us Once" is a service that allows you to report a death to most government organisations in one go. When you register the death, the registrar will explain the "Tell Us Once" service to you. They will either complete the service with you or give you a unique reference number so you can use the service yourself online or by phone. You must use the service within 28 days of getting your unique reference number.
What Information Do You Need?
Before you use "Tell Us Once", you'll need the following details of the person who died:
Surname
Date they died
Name, address, and contact details of the person or company dealing with their estate (known as their 'executor' or 'administrator')
If there's a surviving spouse or civil partner, their name, address, telephone number, and the National Insurance number or date of birth
If there's no surviving spouse or civil partner or their spouse or civil partner is not able to deal with their affairs, the name and address of their next of kin
If they died in a hospital, nursing home, care home, or hospice, the name and address of that institution. You'll also be asked if the stay was for 28 days or more.
You may also need their passport number, driving licence number, vehicle registration numbers, details of any benefits, tax credits or State Pension they were getting, and details of any public sector pension schemes they were getting money from or paying into.
Reporting Without "Tell Us Once"
If you choose not to use the "Tell Us Once" service or if the person died while living abroad, you must let the relevant organisations know about the death yourself¹. This can be a more time-consuming process, but it's essential to ensure all necessary parties are informed.
In conclusion, reporting a death can be a complex process, but services like "Tell Us Once" aim to make it easier. Remember, it's important to take care of yourself during this difficult time and seek help if you need it. Use the button below to start reporting now.
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