Tell Us Once: what else needs doing after a death?
What does Tell Us Once cover?
Tell Us Once is designed to reduce repeated government notifications. In England, Scotland, and Wales, a registrar will usually explain the service after the death is registered, or provide a reference number so the family can use it online or by phone.
The exact organisations notified can depend on the person's circumstances. Government departments, local council services, passport, driving licence, benefits, tax, and related public services may be part of the process.
What does Tell Us Once not cover?
Tell Us Once does not usually deal with private-provider admin. Families should expect to contact organisations outside government separately. This can include banks, building societies, utility companies, phone providers, insurers, employers, landlords, private pension providers, subscriptions, memberships, and digital accounts.
This is the gap ELT is focused on: not replacing Tell Us Once, but helping families understand and organise the private admin that remains afterwards.
What should you do after using Tell Us Once?
Create a private-admin checklist. Start with known accounts and obvious providers, then work outwards from paperwork, bank statements, post, email, devices, and family knowledge.
For each provider, record the provider name, account holder name, contact route, reference number, action needed, proof required, and status. The action may be notify, transfer, close, pause, refund, or memorialise.
Which providers are easy to miss?
Families often remember banks, utilities, and council tax first. Less obvious providers can include streaming subscriptions, cloud storage, mobile contracts, broadband, insurance renewals, private pensions, employer benefits, professional memberships, charities, app subscriptions, online marketplaces, and digital wallets.
How ELT will help after launch
Every Little Thing is preparing to help families find what exists and resolve what needs action after the official steps. Until the April release, this page can help you map the work, and the early-access checklist can help you start with a clearer structure.
Source notes
- GOV.UK — Tell Us Once — Official guidance explaining Tell Us Once and the need to tell organisations outside government.
- GOV.UK — Report the death without Tell Us Once — Useful for understanding government-notification alternatives and remaining organisations.
Frequently asked
- Is Tell Us Once available everywhere in the UK?
- Tell Us Once is available for people who were living in England, Scotland, or Wales. It is not used in the same way for Northern Ireland or people who lived abroad permanently.
- Does Tell Us Once close bank accounts?
- No. Banks and building societies usually need separate notification and evidence.
- Does Tell Us Once stop utility bills?
- No. Utilities are private providers and usually need to be contacted separately.
- Should I contact every provider at once?
- It is usually better to create a list and prioritise urgent money, housing, insurance, and essential-service tasks first.
- Can ELT do this for me now?
- ELT is preparing for April release. This page and checklist are available now, but the full service is not being represented as live.