How long after the death do I have to use Tell Us Once?

Within 28 days of registering the death. After 28 days the reference number expires and each department has to be contacted separately.

Does Tell Us Once stop the State Pension?

Yes — DWP are notified and stop the State Pension payments. The estate may have to repay any overpayment for days after the date of death.

Does it tell banks or insurers?

No — Tell Us Once only covers public bodies. The Death Notification Service (deathnotificationservice.co.uk), run by UK banks, lets you tell most major UK banks and building societies in one go. Insurers, private pensions and utilities are contacted separately.

Bereavement

Tell Us Once after a death — what it covers

Where a link is marked *, it is a partner link — we receive commission at no extra cost to you. Links without a * earn us nothing. How we make money.

In short. Tell Us Once is a free government service that, after a death is registered, notifies HMRC, DWP, DVLA, the Passport Office, the local council and several other public bodies in one phone call or online session. The registrar gives a unique reference number when the death is registered; the service is then accessed at gov.uk/tell-us-once or by phone on 0800 085 7308.

Tell Us Once is available across England, Scotland and Wales (Northern Ireland uses a separate service). Banks, private pensions, utility companies and the deceased's employer are NOT covered and must be told separately.

Last reviewed: 26 May 2026Next review by: 26 November 20262 min read

What Tell Us Once notifies

HMRC — Income Tax and tax credits
DWP — State Pension, Pension Credit, Universal Credit, Disability Living Allowance, PIP, Carer's Allowance, Attendance Allowance, ESA
DVLA — driving licence
Passport Office — UK passport (cancellation, not return of the document)
Local council — Council Tax, Blue Badge, library, council housing/Housing Benefit, electoral register
Public-sector pension schemes (NHS, Teachers', Armed Forces, Civil Service, Royal Mail, judicial)
Veterans UK (where the deceased had a War Pension or Armed Forces compensation)

What you need before starting

The Tell Us Once reference number given by the registrar
The deceased's date of birth and date of death
The deceased's National Insurance number, driving licence and passport numbers if available
Details of any benefits or public-sector pensions they received
Name, address and contact for the next of kin and anyone dealing with the estate

Northern Ireland

Tell Us Once does not operate in Northern Ireland. NI residents use the 'Bereavement Service' helpline (0800 085 2463) for DWP and HMRC notification together, and contact other bodies separately.

FAQ

How long after the death do I have to use Tell Us Once?: Within 28 days of registering the death. After 28 days the reference number expires and each department has to be contacted separately.
Does Tell Us Once stop the State Pension?: Yes — DWP are notified and stop the State Pension payments. The estate may have to repay any overpayment for days after the date of death.
Does it tell banks or insurers?: No — Tell Us Once only covers public bodies. The Death Notification Service (deathnotificationservice.co.uk), run by UK banks, lets you tell most major UK banks and building societies in one go. Insurers, private pensions and utilities are contacted separately.

← All Bereavement guides