Check whether Tell Us Once is available
Tell Us Once reports a death to most government organisations, including DWP for State Pension. GOV.UK explains its registration or coroner-certificate conditions and how a registrar supplies the reference or helps complete the service. It has a deadline for using the reference; check that directly on the official page.
It applies where the person lived in England, Scotland or Wales, including a temporary trip abroad. It is not available when they lived in Northern Ireland or permanently abroad. Follow the relevant official alternative rather than assuming one reporting route covers every place.
Sources: GOV.UK: Tell Us Once after a death
If you cannot use Tell Us Once
GOV.UK gives an alternative list of organisations to contact. For State Pension and other DWP entitlements it directs you to the Bereavement Service, or the International Pension Centre if the person lived abroad. Use the current contact details and accessible communication options on that page.
All Pensions does not send a notification, make a call or submit a form on your behalf. A reminder here cannot stop a payment. Keep a private note of the route used and the response received.
Check which pension schemes still need contact
Tell Us Once contacts some public sector pension schemes, listed on GOV.UK. Other personal or workplace schemes need separate contact. The alternative reporting guidance also explains contacting pension providers promptly where payments were being made, to avoid repayments.
Make a separate line for each known scheme and distinguish “covered by the government service”, “provider contacted” and “reply received”. If a scheme is unknown, leave it on your list as unresolved; do not assume the government notification located every pension.
Sources: GOV.UK: Tell Us Once after a deathGOV.UK: Report a death without Tell Us Once
Keep the reporting record private
A simple private record can hold the organisation, date, route, reference and next requested step. Avoid duplicating death certificates or identity information across unnecessary places. Follow the official service’s information and permission requirements when providing another person’s details.
If you also need to understand your own State Pension after your spouse or civil partner dies, read the separate inheritance guide. Keep that question apart from the notification record. This page is general reporting guidance and does not confirm an estate role, survivor entitlement or completion of every task after a death.
Sources: GOV.UK: Tell Us Once after a death
Sources & review
- GOV.UK: Tell Us Once after a deathChecked 2026-10-04
- GOV.UK: Report a death without Tell Us OnceChecked 2026-10-04
Next scheduled review: 2027-01-04. Provider details can change sooner. Use the official website for the current contact route.
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