What is the ‘tell us once service’
Where do I go for help with admin after someone has died?
In England, the ‘tell us once service’ ( TUO) has been set up by the government, and has been designed to simplify the process of notifying various government departments and agencies about the death of a loved one. It means that you don’t have to make phone calls all the different government agencies separately. Here's how it works:
Introduction to "Tell Us Once":
The "Tell Us Once" service is available through the local Register Office when you go to register a death. The service aims to minimise the need for families to contact multiple government departments individually, saving time and effort during an already challenging period.
Registering the Death:
When you register a death at the local Register Office, they will provide you with information about the "Tell Us Once" service. Some will even do it for you online when you are there.
Information Required:
You will need important details to hand including their full name, date of birth, where and when they died, their National Insurance number, driving license number, passport number, and the relevant benefits or services they might have been receiving.
Consent and Authorization:
The registrar will ask for your consent to share the information with relevant government departments and agencies. You will need to provide your own contact details for communication purposes.
Departments Notified:
Once you have provided the necessary information and given consent, the "Tell Us Once" service will notify various government departments and agencies on your behalf. This includes the Department for Work and Pensions, HMRC, the Passport Office, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, and the local council for council tax.
Benefits and Entitlements:
Notifying the Department for Work and Pensions through the "Tell Us Once" service will stop any benefits being paid, so that you don’t have to worry about refunding them. This includes state pensions, income support, housing benefit, and tax credits so that any relevant benefits can be transferred to the surviving spouse or partner.
Local Council Services:
The "Tell Us Once" service will inform the local council about the death, which helps with canceling or adjusting services provided by the council. This includes council tax, housing, and blue badge parking permits.
Not all government departments and agencies are covered by the "Tell Us Once" service. Banks, utility companies, insurance providers and your TV Licence arent covered by TUO and need to be contacted separately to update them about the death.
GOV.UK - Bereavement: What to do after someone dies Website: www.gov.uk/after-a-death
Tell Us Once - Official Government Website Website: www.gov.uk/tell-us-once
experiment using Chaptgpt* but fact checked.