When a loved one passes, to say it is a difficult time is clearly understatement. What with having to inform family members and friends, arrange a funeral and settle the estate, there is so much to do and that is without including having to inform numerous government organisations. That is where a service like Tell Us Once in Essex may prove to be extremely useful. With this in mind, Laura Richardson now looks to discuss how useful Tell Us Once in Essex could prove to be for you at a time which is typically fraught with high emotion . . .
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When a loved one passes there are many important tasks which must be completed, including contacting many organisations to inform them of the death.
We at Andrew Douglas Wills and Legal Services understand that these tasks can initially appear overwhelming!
However, there is a service available that many of our clients may benefit from; the Tell Us Once service is a free initiative run by the Government to aid the process of contacting the many different government organisations to inform them that someone has passed away. The service does this by notifying all of the government organisations at one time simultaneously. Tell Us Once will notify organisations including Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, the Department for Work and Pensions and the passport office as well as the local council in order for them to cancel any benefits that the deceased was receiving, revoke their Blue Badge (if applicable) and remove them from the Electoral Roll.
In some cases, Tell Us Once can also contact a pension provider to cease pension payments in the case of Public Sector or Armed Forces Pensions. Tell Us Once is an optional service, but many people in Essex may find this service to be extremely helpful, especially considering that these tasks need to be undertaken during the time when you are grieving the loss of a loved one.
In order to use the service, you will need permission from the deceased’s next of kin (if this isn’t yourself), as well as the Executor or Administrator of the Estate, and anyone who was claiming any joint benefits with the deceased at the time of their death. You will also need to provide information including the deceased’s date of birth, National Insurance number, driving licence number, vehicle registration number, passport number and details of any benefits or entitlements they were receiving including a Blue Badge. You will also need to give contact details for the deceased’s next of kin and surviving spouse/civil partner (if applicable), as well as contact details for the Executor or Administrator of the Estate.
Not all local authorities offer the Tell Us Once service, however the service is available across Essex. It is important to note that the relevant local authority will be in respect of the deceased’s area of residence. There is a list of local authorities who do not provide Tell Us Once in Essex available at www.gov.uk/after-a-death/organisations-you-need-to-contact-and-tell-us-once .
If you would like any further information regarding Tell Us Once in Essex, or the procedure following the death of a family member, then please contact Andrew Douglas Wills and Legal Services today via www.andrewdouglaswills.co.uk to find out more.
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