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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 only continue to get Carer Support Payment for 4 weeks.

If you’re moving outside of the Common Travel Area specifically to provide care for someone, you can get Carers Support Payment for 13 weeks.

You can continue to get Carer Support Payment for 26 weeks if your absence is specifically to care for someone that is getting medical treatment outside of the Common Travel Area. 

Carer’s Allowance Supplement 

If you’re leaving Scotland temporarily you can do so for up to 4 weeks out of a 26-week period, and continue to receive Carer’s Allowance Supplement .

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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