Bereaved families offered help through tough times
08 Jun 2023 ARCHIVED (over 3 months old) - view latest news
Bereaved families in Northumberland are to be offered pioneering step-by-step guidance and assistance to deal with the heavy admin burden following the death of a loved one.
A new partnership has been announced between Northumberland County Council Registrars, and end-of-life admin service Settld.
The deal will provide end-to-end help for anyone dealing with the death of a loved one, from the point of that death being officially registered by the Registrar. Award-winning admin service Settld, headquartered in Sunderland, will provide a range of services including a detailed checklist for those handling a death, and support in closing, transferring or changing financial, digital and household accounts.
Councillor Gordon Stewart, Portfolio Holder for Community Services at Northumberland County Council said: “Sadly, we all experience the grief of losing a loved one at some point in our lives. The best thing we can do as a local authority is to quietly offer practical help and support.
“By linking with Settld we are able to provide sound advice to get our residents through the darkest of days - freeing them to grieve and remember their loved ones in their own way.”
Now when someone registers a death in Northumberland, they will receive a pack with helpful guidance on what they might need to do. Settld will then provide hands-on help with the difficult admin - from sorting out probate to accessing local grief support.
More than 26,870 deaths are registered in the North East of England every year. The new service works alongside the Government’s Tell us Once service
Settld notifies more than 950 service providers, from banks and insurers to energy firms, mobile providers, subscription services, social media platforms and more.
In addition to registering the death with service providers, Settld’s free online service helps users close, transfer or amend accounts and obtain date of death balances for probate.
Vicky Wilson, co-founder and CEO of Settld, said: “We are delighted to have the backing of regional Registrars, to further support families when they need it the most.
“Settld is here to help the bereaved, and that now means additional help and advice from the point of a death being registered until all the admin is sorted.”
The new co-operation has also been welcomed by other North East organisations.
Dawn McNally, Chief Executive of Age UK North Tyneside, also a Settld partner, said: “Our team work with Settld whenever one of our customers has been bereaved, and is in need of help. We are so pleased to hear that all North East families will receive the same support from now on.”