How long do DVLA and HMRC take to respond?

littlemissgem85

My Dad died at the end of May with no will. He owned no property as both my parents and I live in a council owned property. 
I used the Tell Us Once service to contact the relevant government departments.
I'm waiting for HMRC to respond regarding his state pension and DVLA about his motorbike.
Does anyone know on average how long it takes for them to make contact days? weeks? 

Thanks

Brie

Sorry for your loss.

I think it took HMRC about 3 months to send through everything for MiL.  If there is something more complicated (like mom now gets a portion of his SP) it may take longer.   Also I expect they may want to wait until the end of the tax year (so next April) to finalise everything.

Not sure what the issue is with the motorbike.  Are you wanting to sell it as part of his estate or are you trying to get the ownership changed to you or similar?  

Hope you can find all your answers.

Shedman

It'll be the DWP not HMRC for the State Pension.  I've just had to call them this morning re my MiL's State Pension as I'd not heard anything, despite submitting the Tell Us Once form on 2 May (the DWP people dealing with Attendance Allowance had responded and actually paid the AA shortfall by 29 May so clearly the Tell Us Once notification had got to them).   Call 0800 151 2012 as thats the specialist Bereavement team number.

pjs493

I’m so sorry for your loss. My husband died last year and I also used the Tell Us Once service. In both cases I contacted both organisations before they contacted me. 

With regards to DVLA, I needed to act fast to ensure the cars were changed into my name so I could tax them and legally drive them (also informed insurance company and they changed the policy so that I was the main driver and removed my late husband). I wrote to the bereavements team and sent the V5Cs to be updated. By the time the DVLA sent me a cheque for the tax refund due to my husband’s estate, they acknowledged in the same letter that I’d already changed ownership and taxed both cars in my name. It all seemed to happen fairly quickly, but to be fair the first few months were a blur because my husband’s death was sudden and unexpected. 

I was proactive with HMRC too because my husband was in the process of sorting out his tax return when he died and I wanted to ensure that I did everything correctly and the deadline wasn’t missed (although they gave me a long extension without even asking for it when I rang them and I was told not to worry about rushing to meet the usual deadline). The HMRC bereavements team were very helpful and waiting times very short. One lady I spoke to also answered some questions relating to implications of my own tax situation. She changed my tax code (my husband was using the married tax allowance) and sent me forms that I needed. They were honestly so helpful and compassionate that I cried on the phone as I was thanking the lady and she said some comforting words. They could see on their system that I’d completed the Tell Us Once form online and knew that I was the correct person to speak to regarding my husband’s tax affairs. 

It add, when I needed to take ID to a local JobCentre in order to receive Bereavement Support Payment, the staff there were also really helpful and compassionate. I cried again when I was talking to the lady who was sorting out my ID and she was also very kind and compassionate. 

Savvy_Sue

It can definitely take a while for DWP to be in touch: is it just the State Pension your dad was receiving? Or also Attendance Allowance? Pension Credit? If your mum's only income is going to be State Pension then she may be entitled to the latter. 

Newly_retired

If your Dad was on Pension Credit, DWP will possibly take the longest.
hMRC  and DVLA were quick to respond and deal with things.

DairyQueen

My brother died on 16th April. I used tell-us-once and received a letter from DWP regarding his SP in the first week of June. HMRC contacted me in mid May to advise that it would be several weeks before they finalised his tax situation.