If your needs or personal details change
Changes you need to report
The changes you need to report include changes to your:
- needs
- health
- disability
- condition
- personal details, like your address or bank account
If you have a terminal illness, the process is different. Find out what to do if you have a terminal illness.
If something changes before or during the move
Tell the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) if your details or circumstances change before you get a letter called ‘Your DLA has moved to Social Security Scotland’.
After you’ve told DWP about your change, what happens next depends on your age.
Select the relevant dropdown below to find out what happens next.
What happens next if you were born on or before 8 April 1948
After you’ve told DWP about the change, they will:
- contact you if you need to send any information
- make a decision about your Disability Living Allowance (DLA) award
- continue to manage your benefit until the move is complete
Your benefit will move to Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance (Scottish Adult DLA) sometime before December 2025.
When your benefit starts moving, it will take 4 to 8 weeks to complete the move to Scottish Adult DLA.
What happens next if you were born on or after 9 April 1948
After you’ve told DWP about the change, your benefit will begin the move to Scottish Adult DLA. It will take 4 to 8 weeks to complete the move.
After the move is complete, Social Security Scotland will look at your reported change and make a decision about your award.
Complete a change of circumstances form
Social Security Scotland will ask you to complete a ‘Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance Change of Circumstances’ form.
They’ll send you this form in the post with a letter called ‘Your DLA is moving to Social Security Scotland’.
The information you give in this form will help Social Security Scotland make sure you’re getting the right amount for your needs.
If you’ve lost the form or did not get one, contact Social Security Scotland and they’ll send you a new one.
Social Security Scotland will review your award
After the move to Scottish Adult DLA is complete, Social Security Scotland will start to review the information you gave in the form.
They’ll send you another letter once they’ve made a decision about your award.
If your award increases
If the review leads to an increase in your Scottish Adult DLA, Social Security Scotland may owe you an additional payment. This is because your entitlement may be backdated depending on when the change occurred and when you reported this change. Backdating means Social Security Scotland will change the date of your higher award entitlement to a date in the past.
This means you get the full award amount you’re entitled to, from the date you’re entitled to it.
Social Security Scotland will automatically pay you any additional payments you’re due. You do not need to do anything. Social Security Scotland will include detail in their letter of any additional payments you’re due and how much these will be.
If your award decreases or stays the same
If the review leads to a decrease in your Scottish Adult DLA, the lower rate will take effect from the date of the decision to reduce your award.
You will not owe Social Security Scotland any money or be disadvantaged by the process of moving your benefit.
If you feel the decision is wrong, you can ask Social Security Scotland to look at it again. This is called a ‘re-determination’. Find out how to ask Social Security Scotland to look at the decision again.
If something changes after the move
Tell Social Security Scotland if your details or circumstances change once you’ve got a letter called ‘Your DLA has moved to Social Security Scotland’.
Social Security Scotland will make a decision about any changes to your Scottish Adult DLA award. This will happen regardless of your age.
Find out how to contact Social Security Scotland about a change after the move is complete.