Tell Us Once potential problems

scottleag

Next week I have to the hardest thing I've ever done in my life and register my wife's death. I'm aware of the Tell Us Once service which is intended to let you make just one declaration that covers all government departments.

My problem is my wife's death certificate has three names - her first name, her maiden surname, her married surname. But her pension and PIP statements are paid as first name, married surname and her passport is first name, maiden name.

Will her NI number be sufficient to have her pension and PIP stopped or am I going to have to somehow prove that the person named on the death certificate is the same person who was in receipt of state pension and PIP?

And what about the passport? There must be thousands in this situation. It's a lot easier to get a passport renewed in the already existing name than mess about changing it to a married name.

It's hard enough right now without having to worry about DWP bureaucracy.

Spoonie_Turtle

I can't help with the question but recognised your name (from the Pension Credit threads) and just wanted to say I'm so sorry for your loss. I hope you're able to get the bureaucracy dealt with as smoothly as possible especially at such a difficult time.

TimeLord1

You'll be ok; the system is designed for it. The key here is the national insurance number. I hope you've also located your register's office; cutbacks have them in some very different locations nowadays. My local one was moved into a library.

Condolences for your loss. 🙏

ngr49er

I also wish to say I am saddened for your loss and wish to send my deepest condolences. Unfortunately I cannot answer how it will go with the DWP, but truly hope they don't cause anymore grief at this difficult time.

MissFlossy222

The Registrar will give you a reference number to give to the Tell Us Once service which should help ensure it all goes smoothly. Sometimes, the Registrar will complete the Tell Us Once online form during your appointment, but I think that may depend on how busy they are.

tacpot12

As TimeLord1 said, you'll be ok. The system will advise the relevant central government and local government departments, and they will contact you if they need any further information, but the issue with her passport still being in her maiden name is unlikely to be a problem as the registrar will have check the maiden name and married surnames; I'd expect the Passport Office to rely on this checking that the Registrar does. The Registrars are all quite experienced, and sensitive, so you should be ok with them. I've just been through this with my Dad after my Mum died.

It is hard, but getting this admin underway will give you something else to focus on. Just take it slowly. There is no reason to rush, other than to keep yourself busy. Please accept my condolences on your loss.

I made a list of all the financial instituions that were likely to need a copy of the Death Certificate. You will need less than you might imagine as some banks are happy to have scanned copies of the death certificate, and those that didn't returned the original certificate very promptly. We bought 10, but would have been fine with 5. You won't need to buy a copy of the Death Certificate for the Undertaker/Crematorium as the Registrar gives you a special (Green) copy for them.

Check the websites of the banks and other institutions you need to contact to find out if they have a specific phone number (or online process) for your to notify them of a death; often they will have a specific number for their Bereavement teams, who are all very good, if a little too sympathetic at times.

If your Wife made Powers of Attorney, you will need to inform the OPG of her death - this is one thing the 'Tell Us Once' service doesn't do. You also need to return the original PoAs (and any certified copies) to the OPG with a covering letter than can be the way you inform them. The address to return them to is online.

My Dad's local authority processed the information that he was entitled to the Single Person Discount on his council tax from the date of death that was notified via 'Tell us Once', and sent him a rebate.

Information about what to do with Blue Badges and Bus Passes (if relevant) can be found on your local authorities website.

Don't forget you may need to advise the Land Registry if you owned any land or property together. How to do this will depend on how you owned the land/property.

scottleag

My heartfelt thanks and gratitude to everyone. Your responses have been re-assuring and I will go to the registrar confident that I have everything needed.

Thank you all very much.

scottleag

I have now been able to register my wife's death and use the Tell Us Once service and it was just as effective as per advice above. I as also able to use the bereavement register to stop unwanted mail. I have two queries.

1 Will this stop mail from groups and bodies she is already registered with (e.g. charities, subscriptions, magazines) or will I have to do this every time something pops through the letterbox?

2 Will this stop ALL junk mail? I seem to recall reading somewhere about something different to the bereavement register which did this.

TimeLord1

It adds your wife's details to a database used by organizations to "scrub" their mailing lists before they send out new marketing campaigns.

Subscription she signed up to will probably continue though so you will have to contact anything like charities.

https://www.mpsonline.org.uk/consumer/register?hl=en-GB

scottleag

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81875670#Comment_81875670

Thank you. That's the one I was thinking of.