Using Tell Us Once to report a bereavement

We’re part of the government’s Tell Us Once service. This service allows people to report a death to most government departments in one go.

What is Tell Us Once?  

Tell Us Once is an optional, free service that lets you report a death to most government departments and local councils in one go.  

Over 80% of deaths in the UK are now reported using Tell Us Once.  

How do I use Tell Us Once? 

After you’ve registered the death with the Registrar, they may complete the Tell Us Once service with you or will provide you with a unique Tell Us Once reference number to use the service at a time that suits you.   

You can find out more details on how to use the service on the government's website.  

What are the benefits of using Tell Us Once?  

We know that when you lose someone close to you, it can be a very difficult time and there’s often a lot of things that need to be done.  

By using Tell Us Once, a range of departments and organisations, including the PPF, can be notified of a bereavement in one go. You won’t need to notify us separately that someone has died.  

Organisations outside government, like employers, banks, and utility companies will still need to be notified.  

What happens after I’ve used Tell Us Once?   

What happens after we receive a Tell Us Once notification can vary. 

If the person who died was receiving compensation payments from us, we’ll ensure payments are suspended to help prevent overpayments.  

If they were eligible to leave death benefits, we’ll then contact the beneficiary or executor of their estate, as appropriate, and ask them to complete a paper or online form before confirming the details of any payments payable. 

What happens if I don’t want to or can’t use the Tell Us Once service?  

If you don’t want to use Tell Us Once, or can’t use the service, you can still use our bereavement notification form or contact us by phone.