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Report a change in your life

Sending documents

Last updated
14 Nov 2022

If you were told you need to send a copy of a document, you'll need to send this before Social Security Scotland can finish checking your form. You can do this online or send your documents in the post.

If we asked you to send a document, or supporting information about a health change, you’ll need to send this before Social Security Scotland can finish checking your form. You can do this online or send your documents in the post.

If you're sending documents about a health change for Adult Disability Payment or Child Disability Payment, find out what to send or how Social Security Scotland can help you find this information.

For all other changes of circumstances, find out what to send below. 

Confirming your name change

If you've not told the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) that your name has changed, you need to send Social Security Scotland a copy of one of the documents below.

Accepted documents

Passport

You can send a copy of a signed passport from the:

  • UK
  • European Economic Area
  • Non-European Economic Area

Cards

You can send a copy of:

  • a National Insurance card
  • an EU national identity card
  • a non-EU national identity card
  • a Young Scot Card with Proof of Age Standards Scheme logo
  • a UK identification card with Proof of Age Standards Scheme logo
  • a biometric residence permit
  • a UK armed services ID card

Driving documents

You can send a copy of:

  • a UK, EU or European Economic Area photo card full driving licence
  • a UK, EU or European Economic Area photo card provisional driving licence
  • a foreign driving licence photo card

Certificates

You can send a copy of:

  • a UK birth certificate
  • a foreign birth certificate
  • a marriage or civil partnership certificate
  • a UK naturalisation certificate
  • a UK registration certificate
  • a divorce or dissolution of civil partnership certificate
  • an adoption certificate

Letters

You can send a copy of a letter from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) about benefits or your pension.

Social Security Scotland can also accept a copy of a letter from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), about:

  • tax
  • Child Benefit
  • Tax Credits

Confirming your address change

To confirm your address change, you need to send Social Security Scotland a copy of one of the documents below.

Accepted documents

Driving documents

You send can a copy of your:

  • vehicle registration certificate
  • vehicle licence renewal notification
  • valid full or provisional UK driving licence - photo card and non-photo licence

Certificates

You can send a copy of a certificate, this could be a:

  • vehicle registration certificate
  • UK naturalisation certificate

You can also send a copy of a certificate or contract dated within the last 6 months, this could be:

  • certificate or contract of employment under the Crown in Scotland
  • certificate or contract of employment in His Majesty's Forces in Scotland

Letters

You can send a copy of a letter dated within the last 6 months. This could be from:

  • the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) about benefits or pension
  • the HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) about tax, child benefit or other payment
  • a Scottish local council about council tax or housing benefit
  • a Scottish local council relating to homeless registration or temporary accommodation

Social Security Scotland can also accept a copy of a letter on headed paper from any professional body, for example:

  • a GP
  • dentist
  • optician
  • social worker
  • hospital
  • school or college

Other documents

You can also send a copy of one of the documents below dated within the last 6 months, this could be a:

  • bank or building society statement
  • utility bill - not a mobile phone bill
  • UK electoral voting card

Social Security Scotland also accept one of the documents below dated within the last 12 months, this could be a:

  • tenancy agreement, or other letter, relating to a current tenancy
  • mortgage statement, or other letter, relating to a current mortgage
  • P45 from your previous employer
  • P60 from your current or previous employer

Confirming your name and address change

If you've been told you need to confirm both your name change and your address change, you can only send Social Security Scotland a copy of one of the documents below.

Accepted documents

Driving documents

You can send a copy of:

  • a UK photo card full driving licence
  • a UK photo card provisional driving licence

Certificates

You can send a copy of a UK naturalisation certificate.

Letters

You can send a copy of a letter dated within the last 6 months. This could be from:

  • the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), about benefits or pension
  • the HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), about tax, Child Benefit or Tax Credits

Confirming you're the main person looking after a child

To show you're the main person looking after a child, the child must be named on your claim for one of these benefits:

  • Child Benefit
  • Child Tax Credit
  • Universal Credit
  • Pension Credit

If you or your partner are kinship carers and you do not get one of these benefits, you need to have something else to show you look after the child. This can be either:

  • a letter from your local authority
  • a copy of a legal order

The type of legal order you need to have includes:

  • a Kinship Care Order
  • a Residence Order
  • a Guardianship Order

If you’re applying for Best Start Grant or Best Start Foods, you can also show you’re the main person looking after a child if you have one of these:

  • a Parental Order
  • an Adoption Order
  • supporting documents from an adoption agency

How to send Social Security Scotland your documents

Online

You can upload your documents online.

Post

To post your documents, send them to:

Social Security Scotland
PO Box 10300
Dundee
DD1 9FU

You should check you've paid the right amount of postage before you send a copy of your documents. Write the following information on your photocopied documents:

  • your full name
  • your date of birth
  • your National Insurance number
  • the words 'change in circumstances', so Social Security Scotland know what you're applying for

If you do not include these things, the processing of your form could be delayed.

If you want to send your documents by post, you should only send photocopies. It can take Social Security Scotland a while to return any original documents you send.

Call Social Security Scotland free on 0800 182 2222 if you'd like a prepaid envelope to send documents.

Get help

Call Social Security Scotland free on 0800 182 2222 if you need further help.

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