The simplest way to notify the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) when someone dies is to use the government’s free Tell Us Once service. When you register the death, the registrar gives you a unique reference. You then use it online or by phone to tell the DWP and other departments in one go, which stops the State Pension and benefits and starts sorting out any overpayments. If Tell Us Once is not offered in your area, call the DWP Bereavement Service on 0800 731 0469. This guide explains the whole process for 2026.
| Tell Us Once can notify | Examples |
|---|---|
| DWP | State Pension, Universal Credit, Pension Credit, disability benefits |
| HMRC | Tax and, where relevant, tax credits |
| DVLA | Driving licence |
| HM Passport Office | Cancelling the passport |
| Local council | Council tax, Blue Badge, electoral register, housing |
Plain-English guide written by Simon Jenkins — covering every stage of the probate process.
Use Tell Us Once first
Tell Us Once is the quickest route and avoids repeating the same details to each department. When you register the death, the registrar will either complete it with you or give you a reference number to use yourself, online or on 0800 085 7308. You will need the deceased’s date of birth, National Insurance number and details of any benefits or pensions they received. Have your own contact details and, ideally, the names of the next of kin and executor to hand.
A handful of council areas do not offer Tell Us Once. If yours is one of them, contact the DWP Bereavement Service directly on 0800 731 0469 to report the death and deal with the State Pension and benefits.
What happens to the State Pension
The State Pension stops when someone dies. Because it is often paid in advance or in arrears, there can be a small overpayment or underpayment to sort out:
- Overpayments made after the date of death must be repaid to the DWP from the estate. This is an ordinary estate debt.
- Underpayments owed to the person may be paid to the estate.
- A surviving spouse or civil partner may be able to inherit part of an additional State Pension or protected payment, depending on the person’s National Insurance record.
Benefit overpayments and the estate
Means-tested benefits such as Universal Credit or Pension Credit also stop at death. If any benefit was overpaid, the DWP will contact the personal representative to recover it. Repaying overpaid benefits is part of settling the estate’s debts before anything is distributed, and it sits squarely within the executor duties of whoever is administering the estate. Never distribute the estate before you are satisfied all such debts are dealt with, as personal representatives can be held personally liable.
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Bereavement Support Payment
A surviving spouse or civil partner under State Pension age may be entitled to Bereavement Support Payment. It is not means-tested and is separate from the estate. There are time limits for claiming the full amount, so it is worth checking eligibility promptly. A Funeral Expenses Payment may also be available to those on qualifying benefits who are responsible for the funeral.
Step by step: notifying the DWP
- Register the death and ask about Tell Us Once.
- Use the Tell Us Once reference online or by phone, or call the DWP Bereavement Service if the service is not available locally.
- Provide the National Insurance number and details of pensions and benefits.
- Deal with any State Pension or benefit overpayment as an estate debt.
- Check whether a survivor can claim Bereavement Support Payment.
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Speak to a probate specialist
Sorting out benefits, pensions and estate debts can be one of the fiddlier parts of estate administration. Curtis Legal’s probate service can take it on for families across Torfaen and South Wales. Call 0800 214 216 for a same-day callback.
About the author
Written by Simon Jenkins, Director and Solicitor at Curtis Legal. SRA 167489. Firm SRA 450129. Simon leads the Curtis Legal private client team and regularly guides personal representatives through the government notifications and estate debts that follow a death.
This article is general information about the law in England and Wales and is not a substitute for tailored legal advice. Sources: GOV.UK, Tell Us Once and GOV.UK, what to do when someone dies.
