Deaths, funerals and cremations
Tell Us Once…and we’ll tell the rest
When a loved one dies, the last thing you feel like doing is getting in touch with lots of different government departments to tell them what has happened. Until now, you had to contact all of them individually. Barnet Council is now providing a service which we hope will make things easier for you.
When someone has died, their death needs to be registered with the Registrar.Once that’s done, several other organisations may have to be contacted and given the same information.
We can help you to give the information to the Department for Work and Pensions and they can pass on this information to a number of other government departments and local council services for you.
What happens to the information?
If you decide to use this service we will be able to tell the following organisations:
- Department for Work and Pensions
- The Pension, Disability and Carers Service
- Jobcentre Plus
- HM Revenue & Customs
- Child Benefit
- Child Tax Credit & Working Tax Credit
- Personal Taxation
- Identity and Passport Service
- Housing Benefit Office
- Council Tax Benefit Office
These organisations can also be told if you ask us to do so:
- Council Housing
- Council Tax
- Libraries
- Blue Badges
- Adult Services
- Children’s Services
- Collection of payment for council services
- Electoral services
- Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency
How we will treat the information you give us
The information you give will be treated securely and confidentially. The organisations who are contacted will use the information to update records; to end services, benefits and credits as appropriate; and to resolve any outstanding issues. They may use this information in other ways, but only as the law allows.
Information you will need to use the service
To make sure the right information is given to any organisations we contact for you and so that you get the most out of the service it will help if you can bring along with you the following information about the person who has died.
- Their National Insurance number and date of birth
- Details of any benefits or services they were receiving
- Their death certificate
- Their Driving Licence or Driving Licence number
- Their Passport or Passport number and town/country of birth
We may also ask you for the contact details for:
- Their next of kin
- A surviving husband, wife or civil partner
- The person dealing with their estate
You must obtain the permission of the persons listed above if you are going to provide us with information about them.
Next of Kin
If you are the next of kin (closest relative by blood or marriage to the deceased), your entitlement to benefits may change, so please have your own National Insurance number and / or date of birth with you when you contact us.
If you are not the next of kin, or the person who is dealing with the deceased’s estate (the person sorting out their property, belongings and money), you can still use the service if you have their permission to provide their details and act on their behalf.
Privacy
This service is committed to ensuring your information is protected. Our privacy statement tells you how we will use and protect the information you provide when you use this service. Ask the Adviser if you wish to see the full privacy statement.
Please remember that it is your responsibility to ensure that all organisations, that pay you a benefit/credit or provide a service to you, have correct and up to date information about you.
How you can contact us to use the service
There are different ways you can use the service.
• In person – You will be offered this service when you register a death. If you would like to use the service, the Registrar will send the information to your chosen organisations there and then. To make a death registration appointment, please call 020 8359 6400.
• By telephone – Call the Department for Work and Pensions on 0800 085 7308 after you have registered the death. The lines are open Monday to Friday between 8am and 8pm. The number is free to call from a BT landline, but other providers including mobile operators may charge you. If you don’t speak English, just tell our advisers and they will arrange for an interpreter to call you back.
If you don’t speak English, call us on 0800 085 7308 and one of our advisers and an interpreter will call you back and help you.
Email this pageLast modified by: Webmaster on 08/11/2011