From February 23, people living in England and Wales on Attendance Allowance and Disability Living Allowance who move to Scotland now need to make a new claim to the Scottish benefit, Pension Age Disability Payment. This marks a significant shift from previous procedures where such cases would be automatically transferred to equivalent Scottish benefits. The rules came into effect following the completion of transfers of Attendance Allowance and DLA cases to Social Security Scotland.
Prior to the change, claimants of AA and DLA who permanently moved from England or Wales to Scotland would have their cases automatically transferred to the equivalent benefit in Scotland. The policy was applied to Personal Independence Payment, Disability Living Allowance for Children, and Carer’s Allowance in November last year. Claimants are urged to apply for replacement benefits as soon as possible after moving to minimise gaps in payment.
Claimants need to tell the DWP or Department of Communities in Northern Ireland about their move before applying to Social Security Scotland. According to official guidance, individuals need to inform either the Department for Work and Pensions or the Department of Communities in Northern Ireland about their relocation before submitting an application to Social Security Scotland. A Scottish Government official emphasized the importance of timely action to ensure continued financial support.
The application process involves submitting documentation to Social Security Scotland, though the exact timeline for processing new claims remains unspecified. Older people claiming DLA will also need to let their benefit provider know and contact Social Security Scotland to request Scottish Adult DLA. The number of people affected by this rule change for Attendance Allowance and Disability Living Allowance claimants moving to Scotland has not been disclosed by authorities.
Questions remain about whether exceptions or special provisions exist for vulnerable claimants during this transition period, and how benefit amounts or eligibility criteria might differ when switching from Department for Work and Pensions to Scottish benefits. The Scottish Government's communication strategy for informing potentially affected individuals across the UK about these changes has not been detailed publicly.