Skip to content Accesskeys Newsroom

The Bereavement Service

If you need to report the death of someone receiving Social Security benefits, you can do this by contacting The Bereavement Service using a dedicated freephone number - 0800 085 2463.

What will The Bereavement Service do for me?

The Bereavement Service will:

  • record the date of death and notify each office that paid benefit to the deceased
  • offer you an eligibility check, as you may be entitled to claim benefits

If you are eligible to make a claim for Bereavement Benefits and/or a Social Fund Funeral payment The Bereavement Service can take the information for your application over the phone and forward this to the relevant office.  

Who can use the Service?

You can use The Bereavement Service if you need to report a death to the Social Security Agency.

Information you will need to hand when you ring

Details of the deceased, including:

  • date of birth
  • date of death
  • National Insurance Number
  • benefits they were getting

If you want to make a claim for Bereavement Benefits you will need details about:

  • you (contact details, date of birth, National Insurance Number)
  • your spouse/civil partner (date of birth, National Insurance Number, employment, pensions)
  • your children (name, date of birth, where they live, benefits)
  • other benefits you are getting
  • your account details

If you want to make a claim for a Social Fund Funeral Payment you will need details about:

  • you, your partner and the deceased (address, date of birth, National Insurance Number, and surviving partner)
  • benefits (you/your partner/surviving relatives are receiving)
  • responsibility for the funeral (including payment)
  • the Funeral Director and bill
  • the estate (including probate solicitor details)
  • money to pay for the funeral
  • your account details

Bereavement Service contact details:

You can contact The Bereavement Service using the following freephone number:

  • 0800 085 2463

More useful links