Social Security Scotland are warning disabled people and carers who move to Scotland from other parts of the UK that they must take action if they want to continue receiving financial support.

The Scottish Government has introduced replacements for Personal Independence Payment, DLA for children and Carer’s Allowance.

From November 6, anyone getting one of these benefits who moves to Scotland will need to apply for the replacement benefits from Social Security Scotland as soon as possible after they move.

But before applying to Social Security Scotland, people must tell the Department for Work and Pensions or Department of Communities in Northern Ireland about their move.

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.”

For more information visit mygov.scot/moving-to-scotland or call Social Security Scotland on 0800 182 2222.

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  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 6 days ago
    This is very promising. I have been building up to finally applying again for PIP for my adult autistic daughter here in England as her appointee, after failing miserably with 0 points a few years ago before her diagnosis, but procrastinating for various reasons - including using your fantastic guides to draft the best answers before starting the process, and not even getting past the PIP1 stage as her NI number is restricted. But now it looks like we'll be moving to Scotland in a few months, all being well. I've been wondering whether to apply here and then transfer to ADP in Scotland, but I imagine she won't even have got an answer from the DWP by then, and if it fails we'll have to start again even later... 

    Should we just wait a few months and save so much hassle?

    And will it still make a difference applying (or not) before April? 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 19 days ago
    My nephew who has Asperger’s applied for PIPS but was turned down. He didn’t challenge the decision as he had difficulty at the interview and didn’t want to be put through that amount of stress again

  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 19 days ago
    I was still on DLA but was moved seamlessly w/out any assessment to the Scottish system. I was previously indefinitely entitled to the components, I don’t know if that had anything to do with it, but I can’t complain. I’m on contribution based ESA in the support group, I’m not familiar with what if anything is changing regarding that? I used to be a civil servant & I always dealt with claims quickly & ppl with respect then, I was hit with multiple spinal ops that have left me disabled. I think outsourcing is a bad idea as it becomes abt targets (not that we didn’t have a time frame with which to complete a claim) but we’ve all seen the undercover reporting! Our team never waited a month to complete a claim, obviously you get bad eggs everywhere but it’s ppls lives your dealing with!
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 19 days ago
    The Scottish system has been far more understanding of my disability than my previous experience of DWP UK prior to the Scottish Government’s switch to ADP. I had to make some phone calls during the ADP application and was met with kindness and warmth on each call. I still had to meet the criteria but what a difference-treated like a human being. So I agree with Karyn Dunning - dignity, fairness and respect appear to be the drivers here. I had previously been through the DWP process of applying, appealing, interview etc. Harrowing but attitudes prevail among private companies which assess disability for DWP UK, where they clearly have little regard for the dignity of claimants. That’s my experience. Thanks SSS and Scottish Government. 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 19 days ago
    I have lived in Scotland for over 24 years, so when I first applied for PIP in 2020 it was still under the national DWP system. It was an extremely stressful process. 
    Having been moved over to ADP automatically a year before my review, it was honestly a seamless process. And when it came to my review in 2024, they did a paper based review, and renewed my ADP for another 3 years.
    From my experience, the Scottish system is much fairer and more understanding for genuine claimants. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 18 days ago
      @Kim Francis Will be interesting to see what the next Tory government does; as they are hellbent on face-to-face assessments for all. Scotland's system is essentially subsidised by England, so they could try and force the SNP's hand. Would be nice if the UK government copies Scotland's model, but they'll never happen. :(
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 19 days ago
    My partner is Scots , I might give him a nudge to see if I can escape the crap the DWP dish out here and move there 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 20 days ago
    Much more sympathetic I feel , and Karyn Dunning above states that she wants “disabled people and their carers to get every penny that they are entitled to.” Meanwhile,  south of the border, the aims of the system are the removal and restriction of entitlement.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 20 days ago
    Getting ADP in Scotland is simpler as you are dealing directly with SSS and not private contractors. 

    Of course, you have still to answer the questions correctly but in my example, though I can't speak for others, I wasn't even called for interview. 

    In my opinion they give more weight to the G. P. notes as to the questions, but of course they are also important. 

    Anyone applying after moving to Scotland would in my opinion not even be called up for the interview.

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