How to Notify Tell Us Once of a Death: Government Bereavement Guide 2026

How to notify Tell Us Once of a death — step by step

1. Get a unique reference number from the registrar

   When you register the death at the register office, the registrar will give you a Tell Us Once reference number and a date it expires (usually 28 days). Keep this safe.

2. Use the reference online or by phone

   Go to gov.uk/tell-us-once or call 0800 085 7308. You will need the deceased's National Insurance number, date of birth, passport number (if available), driving licence number (if available), and details of any benefits or tax credits they received.

3. Select the departments to notify

   Tell Us Once can notify HMRC, DWP (State Pension, benefits), DVLA (driving licence), Passport Office, local council (council tax, housing benefit, library membership), and other local services depending on your area.

4. Confirm notifications sent

   You will receive a confirmation of which departments have been notified. Each department will then contact you directly about next steps, outstanding payments, or documents required.

What documents does Tell Us Once need?

• Tell Us Once reference number (from registrar)
• Deceased's National Insurance number
• Deceased's date of birth
• Passport number (if available)
• Driving licence number (if available)

Have multiple certified copies of the death certificate ready. Banks and financial institutions each require an original or certified copy — you cannot usually pass a single copy between organisations. See our guide to how many death certificates you need.

How long does Tell Us Once take?

Tell Us Once typically takes 1–2 weeks to process a bereavement notification once all required documents have been received.

During this period, accounts or services will typically be frozen until the estate is administered. This means no new transactions can be authorised.

Tell Us Once is available in England, Scotland, and Wales. Northern Ireland has a similar service but operated differently — check nidirect.gov.uk for details.

What happens after you notify Tell Us Once?

Once Tell Us Once receives your notification and confirms receipt, the account or service will be frozen and no new transactions will be authorised. Estate administration can then begin.

Tell Us Once will confirm receipt of your notification and advise you of any next steps required to close or transfer the account or policy. Keep a record of all correspondence and reference numbers for the estate file.

What cannot wait