Moving to Scotland from England, Wales or Northern Ireland

Your moving to Scotland guide

If you move to Scotland from England, Wales or Northern Ireland, you’ll need to:

  1. Tell your benefit provider your change of address.
  2. Make a new application to Social Security Scotland for the replacement Scottish disability and carer benefits.
  3. Plan ahead.

Disability and carer benefits in Scotland

The Scottish Government now has its own social security system, Social Security Scotland. This means the following disability and carer benefits from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) have been replaced with new benefits in Scotland.

DWP benefits replaced by new Social Security Scotland benefits
DWP benefit Replacement benefit from Social Security Scotland
Carer's Allowance Carer Support Payment
Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children Child Disability Payment
Personal Independence Payment (PIP) Adult Disability Payment

Plan ahead

Moving home can be a stressful and challenging time. It’s best to plan ahead as much as you can to help ease any anxiety.

Social Security Scotland can help you get everything you’re entitled to.

Act now to reduce the risk of any disruption or delays to:

  • your disability or carer award payments
  • processing your new application
  • any other related benefits you get
  • support available to you

Use the following pages in this guide to make a checklist based on your own circumstances. It’ll help you find out:

  • what you need to do and when
  • who to contact for support
  • the documents that’ll help Social Security Scotland process your application

Select 'Next' to go to the next page in this guide.

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