Essential information for people on PIP, DLA, Carer’s Allowance or Attendance Allowance in the UK.
Essential information for people on PIP, DLA, Carer’s Allowance or Attendance Allowance in the UK.(Image: Jane Barlow/PA Wire)
Disabled people and those provisioning unpaid care who move to Scotland from other parts of the UK must take early action if they want to continue receiving financial support. The Scottish Government has introduced replacement benefits for Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children, Attendance Allowance and Carer’s Allowance.
From November 6, anyone getting PIP, DLA for Children or Carer’s Allowance who moves to Scotland will need to apply for the devolved replacement benefit from Social Security Scotland. From Spring next year, people on Attendance Allowance who move to Scotland will also need to apply for Pension Age Disability Payment.
To minimise payment disruptions, people are being urged to apply for the replacement benefits – Adult Disability Payment, Child Disability Payment, Pension Age Disability Payment and Carer Support Payment – as soon as possible after the move.
READ MORE: Attendance Allowance payments set to end for thousands of pensioners next monthREAD MORE: Full list of benefits and one-off payments only people in Scotland can claim
Before applying to Social Security Scotland, people must tell the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) or Department of Communities in Northern Ireland about their move.
Older people on DLA will also need to inform their benefit provider and get in touch with Social Security Scotland to request Scottish Adult DLA.
Social Security Scotland’s deputy director Karyn Dunning said: “It’s vital disabled people and carers who move to Scotland take action to ensure they continue to get the financial support they are entitled to.
“We know applying for benefits can feel daunting, especially alongside moving to a new country, but there is an in-depth guide available on mygov.scot.
“Our staff are also here to answer questions and help people apply. We can provide help over the phone, through webchat or through a face-to-face appointment with one of our community-based advisors.
“I urge people not to put off applying. The Scottish approach to benefits is very different from that of the DWP. For example, we do not use private sector assessors to make decisions.
“Our system is built on the principles of dignity, fairness and respect, and we want disabled people and carers to get every penny they’re entitled to.”
It’s important to be aware that the DWP and Department of Communities in Northern Ireland will continue to pay PIP, DLA for children and Carer’s Allowance to someone for 13 weeks after they move to Scotland.
The call to make an application early is due to claims processing times to try and minimise disruption to payments between welfare agencies.
People who make a successful application for a devolved disability benefit may be entitled to have their payments backdated to the day after their DWP benefit ended.
More information on moving to Scotland and claiming devolved benefits can be found on MYGOV.SCOT or by calling Social Security Scotland on 0800 182 2222.
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