A new service that makes it easier to inform central and local government about the death of a person has been launched in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.

“Tell us once” means residents will only have to provide details about the person who has died once instead of having to repeat the same information to a number of different agencies.

Leicester City, Leicestershire and Rutland County and Leicestershire’s district and borough councils have teamed up with the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) to launch the service, which will be extended to include births in the New Year.

People who have to register a death also have to inform a wide range of other government services. This can sometimes be time consuming and difficult.

’Tell Us Once’ means people can choose, without charge, to have the registrar pass information on to other service providers such as the DWP, HM Revenue and Customs, the Identity and Passport Office and Housing and Council Tax Benefit Offices.

Byron Rhodes, Leicestershire County Council Cabinet Member for Regulatory Services, said:

We are delighted to be able to offer this service. In the past residents have had to contact each agency individually following the death of a loved one, which may have added additional stress to what was already a difficult and sensitive time in their lives. ’Tell us once’ means information does not have to be repeated, making life easier and the process simpler .

Sir Peter Soulsby, the City Mayor of Leicester, said:

I very much welcome the Tell Us Once initiative. It will be of real help to those who have just lost someone. We all know what a difficult time that can be, and anything that makes it easier to bear has to be a positive step forward .

Roger Begy, Leader of Rutland County Council, said:

It is important to us to provide the best possible services to our residents. The ‘Tell Us Once’ system will be really beneficial to our community as they will only need to make one visit to the registrar rather than having to contact a variety of agencies. I am really pleased that we are able to offer this service .

When making an appointment to register a death residents are now asked if they would like to use the ‘Tell us once’ service.

The information given to the registrar will be used mainly to update records, end services, benefits and credits as appropriate and to resolve any outstanding issues.

Some personal information will be required about the deceased and next of kin.

Central and local government are working together to include additional services, however other service providers who can be informed through ‘Tell Us Once’ are the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, the Library Service and Council Housing Services.

For more information call 0116 305 6509 or visit www.leics.gov.uk/tellusonce