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Benefits if you leave Scotland or travel abroad

Leaving Scotland temporarily

Last updated
24 Mar 2025

The rules about how long you can be away and still get payment depends on what benefit you’re getting and the reason you’re away.

Disability benefits

These are the rules about being away from home temporarily for the following disability benefits:

  • Adult Disability Payment
  • Child Disability Payment
  • Pension Age Disability Payment
  • Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance (Scottish Adult DLA)

The rules depend on whether you’re going somewhere inside or outside of the Common Travel Area. 

The Common Travel Area is: 

  • United Kingdom
  • Republic of Ireland
  • Isle of Man
  • Channel Islands

If you’re moving temporarily inside the Common Travel Area there is no time limit as long as it’s not a permanent move away from your address in Scotland.

If you’re moving temporarily outside of the Common Travel Area you can only continue to get payments for the first 13 weeks.  

If you’re moving temporarily outside of the Common Travel Area because of medical treatment you can continue to get payments for up to 26 weeks. Medical treatment means medical, surgical, psychological or rehabilitative treatment.

After 13 weeks (or 26 weeks for medical treatment) your payment will stop. 

Carer Support Payment 

If you’re temporarily moving outside of the Common Travel Area, you can normally continue to get Carer Support Payment, Scottish Carer Supplement, and any Carer Additional Person Payment you’re entitled to for up to 4 weeks.

When your award can be paid for more than 4 weeks

You can be paid for up to 13 weeks if you’re temporarily moving outside the Common Travel Area to provide care for someone.

You can be paid for up to 26 weeks if you’re temporarily moving outside the Common Travel Area with a person so that they can get medical treatment.

The person must be either someone you're getting:

  • Carer Support Payment for
  • Carer Additional Person Payment for

For your payments to continue while outside the Common Travel Area:

  • you must provide care for the eligible number of hours
  • the person you care for must be getting a qualifying benefit

If your Carer Support Payment stops, you’ll also stop getting:

  • Scottish Carer Supplement
  • any Carer Additional Person Payment

Telling Social Security Scotland that you are moving

It’s very important that you let Social Security Scotland know if you leave Scotland even if this is only a temporary move. 

Find out how to let Social Security Scotland know that you’ve moved. 

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