Bankhurst - a friend refers to the paperwork following bereavement as sadmin. I don’t want to add to anyone’s stress or despair in the midst of the loss of your husband but, my experience of Tell us Once was dismal. It was ineffective with the DWP and with my husband’s occupational pension provider. I am fortunate in having my own occupational pension and savings, otherwise I’d have been under awful financial pressure.
I told used the tell us once form when I registered my husband’s death on 11.10.22. I received nothing from his occupational pension until March.
My bank’s bereavement service was dire. I made an appointment with the manager. On arrival I was told a trainee would be observing. I agreed to this but pointed out it would have been better customer service to ask if I was ok with being observed at such a difficult time. I was shown into the room by a bouncy, giddy young woman who told me she was training in the bereavement scheme so might not know everything. She knew very little. I was just unlucky with the bank. On other occasions it’s been good. The bereavement specialists are usually good.
Apologies for the whingefest. I won’t say anything about the DWP 😱. Amazon was brilliant.
adrisco, your post wasn’t a rant, tho I’m afraid mine is. Bereavement at this time of year is so tough. Be gentle with yourself and cry when you need to.
I found having a list, working my way through it and keeping a note of what was said/agreed helped. Also, don’t expect too much of yourself. If one phone call a day is what you can manage, that’s ok. So is having a complete day off from it. Look after yourself x