What is the DWP Bereavement Service number?
Call 0800 151 2012, Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm. The Welsh-language number is 0800 731 0453. For Relay UK, dial 18001 then 0800 151 2012. These details apply to England, Scotland and Wales.
How to Notify DWP of a Death | ProbateHelp
How to notify DWP after a death, use Tell Us Once, handle benefit payments and overpayments, and check benefits for a surviving partner.
This guide is part of ProbateHelp's Notifications guide cluster. Estimated reading time: 12 min.
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Frequently asked questions
Do I need to contact DWP if I use Tell Us Once?
Tell Us Once normally notifies DWP, so a separate report is not usually needed. Keep the confirmation. Contact the DWP Bereavement Service if Tell Us Once was unavailable, a benefit was not covered or you need to check the deceased person's benefits or the survivor's possible entitlement.
What if a benefit payment arrives after the death?
Do not spend or return it without instructions. DWP must calculate the deceased person's final entitlement because benefits are paid on different cycles. Keep the money available and retain the bank statement. DWP will explain whether any amount is due to the estate or must be repaid.
Can DWP recover an overpayment from a family member?
Recovery from Estates normally concerns the deceased person's estate. However, liability can be different where another person was jointly liable, including some joint Universal Credit debts, or where a payment was made to another person. Do not assume every debt is estate-only; ask DWP to identify the decision and the person legally liable.
What happens to a joint Universal Credit claim?
Report the death through the Universal Credit journal or helpline unless Tell Us Once has already notified DWP. DWP will update the claim and explain what the surviving partner must do. Do not start a duplicate claim solely because a general guide says every joint claim ends automatically.
Does Housing Benefit continue for four weeks after death?
Do not assume so. Housing Benefit entitlement for the person who died ends on death. A surviving partner may need a claim or reassessment in their own right. Separately, rent can remain payable under the tenancy while notice or succession is dealt with. Ask the council about Housing Benefit and the landlord about the tenancy.
Who do I contact in Northern Ireland?
Tell Us Once does not operate in Northern Ireland. Contact the Department for Communities Bereavement Service on 0800 085 2463, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. Relay UK users can dial 18001 then 0800 085 2463.