Tell Us Once: Your Guide to UK Bereavement Notification

Last updated: 10 April 2026

Most families don’t realise that notifying government agencies, utilities, and financial institutions after a death is one of the longest and most tedious parts of bereavement. What many people don’t know is that the UK government has created a free service called Tell Us Once that handles much of this burden for you—yet the majority of bereaved families still aren’t using it. If you’ve just lost someone, or you’re helping a family member through this time, understanding how Tell Us Once works could save you weeks of phone calls and repeated explanations. This guide explains exactly what the service covers, how to use it, and what you’ll still need to handle separately. By the end, you’ll know precisely what Tell Us Once does and doesn’t do—and why it matters right now.

What Is Tell Us Once?

Tell Us Once is a single government service that notifies multiple agencies about a death on your behalf, saving you from making dozens of separate phone calls. Instead of contacting HM Revenue & Customs, the Department for Work and Pensions, and your local council individually, you register the death once and these organisations are informed automatically.

The service exists precisely because families like yours were tired of repeating the same information to different departments. It sounds simple, but before Tell Us Once existed, a bereaved person would need to contact each government body separately, hold on phone lines for hours, and explain their situation repeatedly. The service was introduced to reduce that administrative burden during an already overwhelming time.

Tell Us Once is completely free. There’s no charge, no hidden fees, and no requirement to use it—but once you understand what it does, most families realise it saves significant time and stress.

How Tell Us Once Works

The process is straightforward, though it does require you to have the death certificate in hand. You register the death once through Notify (the government’s digital death notification portal), and that single registration is sent to all the relevant government agencies.

Here’s what happens step by step:

• You access the Notify service online (or call if you can’t use the internet)
• You provide details about the person who has died: their name, date of birth, national insurance number, and date of death
• You confirm the details are correct
• The information is sent to HM Revenue & Customs, the DWP, and your local council
• Each agency updates its records and stops payments, tax calculations, or council services as appropriate

The system works because these organisations have agreed to share information and update their records when they receive notification from Tell Us Once. You don’t have to follow up with each one individually—the notification happens behind the scenes.

Many families in Washington NE38 find this particularly helpful because it removes the anxiety of “Have I told everyone?” During bereavement, when you’re making so many decisions and arrangements, having one single notification point gives real peace of mind. We’ve spoken to families here at The Teal Farm who’ve used the service and said that alone was worth understanding the system, even if they still had to contact banks and utilities separately.

What Tell Us Once Covers

Tell Us Once notifies three main areas of government. Understanding exactly what these cover is important, because it shows you where your administrative burden is lifted—and where you still have work to do.

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC)

Tell Us Once notifies HMRC that the person has died. This is important for several reasons:

• HMRC will stop issuing tax codes and update their records
• Any tax rebates owed are identified and processed
• Overpaid tax is refunded to the estate
• Personal tax allowances are cancelled

Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)

The DWP administers state benefits, pensions, and other welfare payments. Tell Us Once alerts them so that:

• State pensions stop being paid
• Universal Credit and other benefits cease
• Overpayments are identified
• Any surviving dependants’ entitlements are reassessed

This is particularly important if the person was receiving benefits or a state pension. Without notification, payments can continue, creating overpayments that must eventually be recovered from the estate.

Local Council

Your local council is notified so that council tax is stopped, electoral register records are updated, and any council benefits or payments are cancelled. This prevents the family from receiving continued council tax bills or other local authority correspondence addressed to the deceased.

What Tell Us Once Doesn’t Cover

This is the critical part that catches many families off guard. Tell Us Once is powerful, but it is not comprehensive. There are several important organisations and services that Tell Us Once does not notify.

Banks and Building Societies

You must contact every bank, building society, and credit union where the deceased held accounts. Tell Us Once won’t do this for you. These organisations need to freeze accounts, stop payments, and begin probate procedures with you or the executors.

Insurance Companies

Life insurance, home insurance, car insurance, and any other policies must be notified separately. Some policies may pay out on death (life insurance, critical illness cover), and the insurers need to know to process these claims.

Utilities and Service Providers

Gas, electricity, water, internet, mobile phones, and subscription services are not covered by Tell Us Once. You’ll need to contact each one directly to stop payments or transfer services.

Employers

If the person was employed, the employer must be notified separately. They’ll need to process final salary payments, settle pension entitlements, and cancel employee benefits.

Landlords and Mortgage Providers

If the person was renting or had a mortgage, these parties must be informed directly. They have legal interests in the property and need to be involved in what happens next.

Many people are surprised to learn that Tell Us Once doesn’t cover these areas, especially after they’ve heard how comprehensive it is. The reason is straightforward: these are private organisations with their own systems, not government agencies. Tell Us Once only covers government bodies because those organisations have formal agreements to receive and process this notification centrally.

How to Access Tell Us Once

There are two ways to use Tell Us Once: online through Notify, or by telephone if you’re unable to use the internet.

Online Via Notify

You can access Tell Us Once through the government’s Notify service on GOV.UK. You’ll need:

• The deceased person’s full name
• Their date of birth
• Their national insurance number (if known)
• Their address at the time of death
• The date of death
• A copy of the death certificate (you can upload this as part of the process)

The online system is designed to be straightforward and takes about 10–15 minutes to complete. You don’t need to register for anything in advance—you simply access Notify, follow the prompts, and submit your notification.

By Telephone

If you’re unable to use the online system, you can call the Tell Us Once helpline through GOV.UK, which will connect you to a representative who can take your details over the phone. This is particularly helpful if you’re elderly, not confident with computers, or simply prefer to speak to someone directly.

Timing is important: you should register with Tell Us Once within five days of receiving the death certificate. The sooner you do this, the sooner government organisations update their records and prevent overpayments or continued benefit payments.

After You Register With Tell Us Once

Once you’ve submitted your notification to Tell Us Once, the system sends the information to HMRC, the DWP, and your local council. These organisations will then update their records, but this doesn’t happen instantly. Most will process the notification within 5–10 working days, though some may take longer.

You don’t need to do anything after you submit your notification. Tell Us Once handles the communication on your behalf. However, you should keep a record of what you’ve notified (print a copy or take a screenshot of your confirmation) in case you need to follow up with any of these organisations later.

At the same time as using Tell Us Once, you’ll need to start contacting the organisations not covered by the service. This is where the real administrative work begins: the first 24 hours after a death are often focused on practical tasks, but the days that follow involve systematic notification of banks, insurers, employers, and utilities.

Many families find it helpful to create a checklist of all organisations they need to contact. This removes the mental burden of trying to remember who still needs to be told and ensures nothing falls through the cracks during what is an overwhelming time.

If you’re planning a wake or celebration of life in Washington, we understand that these practical tasks are happening alongside the emotional weight of arranging a meaningful farewell. Wake venues in Washington like The Teal Farm are designed to take the venue planning off your plate, so you can focus on the people and the grief rather than logistics. Step-free access, free parking, and catering from £8 per head means you’re not adding financial stress to an already difficult time.

For more information, visit direct cremation washington.

For more information, visit funeral directors north east.

For more information, visit celebration of life washington.