Website of the UK government

How the service works

Once informed, the local authority can contact (for example):

• the Passport Service to cancel a passport
• the Pension Service to cancel a State Pension
• DVLA to cancel a driving licence

Can you use this service?

Like any death, it needs to be registered with the register office.

To register the death and find out if the local authority is offering the service:

• enter the dead person’s postcode into the register office search tool (see below)
• if the service is available, follow the ‘tell us once’ link
• find more about the service on the local authority’s website

If your local authority doesn’t offer the service, then help on reporting the death can be found in the articles below.

• Registering a death

• What to do when someone dies checklist

How to use the service

Once the death has been registered, you can use the service:

• in person – make an appointment to see your local authority bereavement adviser (the registrar can tell you how to do this)
• by phone – the registrar will give you details of the number you need to call

The types of information you will be asked about the dead person include:

• death certificate details – you get this when the death is registered
• their National Insurance number and date of birth
• details of any benefits and services they were getting
• name of their closest relative – known as the ‘next of kin’

If you’re not the next of kin (or spouse/partner), you must have permission from them before you give any information to the adviser.

What happens after seeing an adviser

The relevant government departments and services will be contacted on your behalf. Depending on your circumstances these may include:

• Adult Services (social care for adults)
• Children’s Services
• Council Housing
• Council Tax Office
• Disability and Carers Service
• DVLA (driving licence agency)
• HM Revenue and Customs (for Child Benefit, Tax Credits and Personal Taxation)
• Passport Service
• Pension Service

The information you give to the adviser is only passed on to the government departments that need to know.

• Download the 'Tell Us Once' privacy statement (PDF, 37K)

• Help with PDF files

Further information

• Telling DVLA about a bereavement Opens new window