Tell Us Once service

Care services may find, in cases where there is no next of kin, that the responsibility for registering a death of someone in their care falls to them. Tell Us Once is a service that lets you report a death to most government organisations in one go. The service is available in all councils across England, Scotland and Wales.

Tell Us Once can notify organisations including:

• DWP State Pension, Universal Credit, Attendance Allowance Carers and so on
• HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)
• HM Passport Office
• Council services such as adult social services, libraries, Blue Badge, concessionary travel, electoral services
• Driver and Vehicle Licencing Agency (DVLA)
• Public sector pensions: NHS, teachers, armed forces and so on.

 If you are registering a death with a registrar in your capacity as a care home manager, official informant, next of kin or relative: 

1. the registrar will issue you with a unique Tell Us Once service reference number

2. you can use this reference number to access Tell Us Once online or through a dedicated telephony team

3. a list of what you will need to complete the service to notify central and local government departments to stop services, notify Pensions and Benefits, cancel passports and so on is held here

4. the system is easy to use and once completed, departments are notified instantly, with no need for you to contact them separately by telephone or in writing.