Changes to Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for adults

If you live in Scotland and get Disability Living Allowance (DLA) from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), your disability benefit will move to Social Security Scotland.   

The process of moving some people on DLA starts in summer 2022. Your DLA will only move then if you were born on or after 8 April 1948. You'll keep getting your regular DLA payments until your benefit moves. There will be no gaps in payment.

Whose DLA will move

If you were born on or after 8 April 1948, your DLA award will move to Social Security Scotland if:

• you report a change to your disability or health condition
• you ask to move to Adult Disability Payment
• your DLA award is ending or renewing from summer 2022

Your DLA will move after Adult Disability Payment launches in summer 2022. 

After Social Security Scotland moves your benefit, they’ll pay you an interim Adult Disability Payment award. This will be the same amount as your DLA. There will be no gaps in payment.

Social Security Scotland will not reassess or review your award during the move. 

After the move, Social Security Scotland will begin to review your award based on your current circumstances. This may affect your payment.

If the circumstances above do not apply to you, or you were born before 8 April 1948, you’ll continue to be paid DLA by DWP. Your benefit will move at a later date.

Social Security Scotland will move your benefit

Social Security Scotland will move your benefit, you do not need to do anything. 

This means that you do not have to end your DLA or apply for a new Social Security Scotland benefit. 

DWP will tell you when it is time to move

When it's time for your benefit to move, DWP will contact you by letter. 

DWP will keep paying you until Social Security Scotland start to pay you.

Once your benefit starts to move, Social Security Scotland will send you a letter. The letter will tell you what will happen next.

This letter will go to the address that DWP has, so make sure DWP has an up to date address for you. 

Before your benefit moves to Social Security Scotland

If you have a review before summer 2022, DWP will manage this. Make sure you continue to follow any requests from DWP.

Tell DWP if you need to report a change in your health condition before your benefit starts moving to Social Security Scotland. 

You can call DWP free on 0800 121 4600. Find out how to contact DWP in another way.  

If there’s a change in your health condition before summer 2022, DWP will ask you to apply for Personal Independence Payment (PIP). Your benefit will then move to Social Security Scotland at a later date.

If there’s a change in your health condition after summer 2022, DWP will not ask you to apply for PIP. DWP will start to move your benefit to Social Security Scotland.