Tell your benefit provider you’ve moved to Scotland
If you’ve moved to Scotland from England, Wales or Northern Ireland, you must tell the relevant government department that pays your benefits as soon as you can. Any delay in telling them might disrupt your payments or stop them getting in touch with you.
Select the relevant option to find out more:
If you’ve moved to Scotland from England or Wales
What you need to do
Contact the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) if you get any of these benefits:
- Carer’s Allowance
- Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
You can tell DWP about your change of address as soon as you move to Scotland.
Your entitlement to DWP disability and carer benefits will stop 13 weeks after the date you move.
Check with DWP that they:
- will pay you as normal for 13 weeks after the date you move
- have the correct bank details for your payment in case they've changed since your move
How to contact DWP
What happens after you tell DWP
DWP will continue to pay you for 13 weeks from the date of your move. They'll send you a letter to confirm when they'll stop paying you.
You'll need to make a new application for the replacement Scottish benefit as soon as possible after you move to Scotland. Do not wait until you get your letter from DWP with your end of award date.
What happens if you delay telling DWP
Your entitlement to DWP disability and carer benefits will stop 13 weeks after you move to Scotland.
If you delay telling DWP about your move until after that 13 weeks, they could pay you too much. You may have to pay back DWP the benefit if you’ve been overpaid.
Find out more about benefit overpayments on GOV.UK.
Start your new application for the replacement Scottish benefit as soon as you move to Scotland.
Backdated awards
If your application to Social Security Scotland is successful, your award entitlement may be backdated to the day after your DWP benefit ends. The backdated period will depend on your circumstances.
Social Security Scotland will send you a letter with your award details, including any payments due to you for a backdated award.
If your payments have stopped and you have concerns, contact Social Security Scotland for help.
If someone caring for you is getting Carer's Allowance or Carer Support Payment a break in your DWP and Social Security Scotland benefits can affect their benefits. This could also affect their eligibility for other benefits or support.
Who else to tell about your move to Scotland
Who else to tell about your change of circumstances depends on which benefits you get.
You’ll need to report your change of address to more than one organisation, if you get more than one of these benefits:
- Universal Credit
- Pension Credit
- Housing Benefit
- Child Benefit
- Other benefits including Employment and Support Allowance
You could be taken to court or have to pay a penalty if you deliberately give wrong information or do not report a change in your circumstances.
If you’ve moved to Scotland from Northern Ireland
What you need to do
Contact the Department for Communities (NI) if you get any of these benefits:
- Carer’s Allowance
- Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
You can tell the Department for Communities (NI) about your change of address as soon as you move to Scotland.
Your entitlement to Department for Communities (NI) disability and carer benefits will stop 13 weeks after the date you move.
Check with the Department for Communities (NI) that they:
- will pay you as normal for 13 weeks after the date you move
- have the correct bank details for your payments in case they've changed since your move
How to contact the Department for Communities (NI)
What happens after you tell the Department for Communities (NI)
The Department for Communities (NI) will continue to pay you for 13 weeks from the date of your move. They'll send you a letter to confirm when they'll stop paying you.
You’ll need to make a new application for the replacement Scottish benefit as soon as possible, after you move to Scotland. Do not wait until you get your letter from Department for Communities (NI) with your end of award date.
What happens if you delay telling the Department for Communities (NI)
Your entitlement to disability and carer benefits will stop 13 weeks after you move to Scotland.
If you delay telling the Department for Communities (NI) about your move until after that 13 weeks, they could pay you too much.
You may have to pay back the Department for Communities (NI) the benefit if you’ve been overpaid.
Find out more about benefit overpayments on nidirect.gov.uk.
Start your new application for the replacement Scottish benefit as soon as you move to Scotland.
Backdated awards
If your application to Social Security Scotland is successful, your award entitlement may be backdated to the day after your Department for Communities (NI) benefit ends. The backdated period will depend on your circumstances.
Social Security Scotland will send you a letter with your award details, including any payments due to you for a backdated award.
If your payments have stopped and you have concerns, contact Social Security Scotland for help.
If someone caring for you is getting Carer's Allowance or Carer Support Payment a break in your Department for Communities (NI) and Social Security Scotland benefits can affect their benefits. This could also affect their eligibility for other benefits or support.
Find out more about benefit overpayments on nidirect.gov.uk.
Who else to tell about your move to Scotland
Who else to tell about your change of circumstances depends on which benefits you get.
You’ll need to report your change of address to more than one organisation, if you get any of these benefits:
- Universal Credit
- Pension Credit
- Housing Benefit
- Child Benefit
- Other benefits including Employment and Support Allowance
You could be taken to court or have to pay a penalty if you deliberately give wrong information or do not report a change in your circumstances.