Tell us once - when someone has died

When someone has died we can help you tell the people who need to know.

When someone has died, there are lots of things that need to be done, at a time when you probably least feel like doing them. One of these is contacting government departments and local council services that need to be told.

We are providing a service which we hope will make things easier. This new service means that you can just tell us and these organisations will be contacted.

You can use this service to tell the following organisations about the death:

Local Councils

Housing Benefit Office
Council Tax Benefit Office
Council Tax
Collection of payment for council services
Libraries
Electoral services
Blue Badges

Adult Services

Children's Services
Council Housing

Department for Work and Pensions

Pension, Disability and Carers Service
Jobcentre Plus
Overseas Health Team

HM Revenue and Customs

Child Benefit

Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit

Personal Taxation

Identity and Passport Service

Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency

Ministry of Defence, Service Personnel and Veterans Agency

War Pensions scheme

Information you will need to use the service

To make sure the right information is given to any organisations we contact for you, and so that you get the most out of the service, it will help if you can bring along with you the following information about the person who has died:

Their National Insurance number and date of birth
Details of any benefits or services they were receiving
Their death certificate
Their Driving Licence or Driving Licence number
Their Passport or Passport number

We may also ask you for information about:

Their next of kin
Any surviving husband, wife or civil partner
The person dealing with their estate

You must obtain the agreement of the persons listed above if you are going to provide us with information about them.

Additional services

If you come and see an Adviser, they will also be able to help you find other information and organisations that can help you.

When you have registered the death the Registration Officer will give you more information about the service and how you can use it. If it helps, you can usually make appointments to register the death and use the service on the same visit.