People who get the Department for Work and Pensions’ PIP Attendance Allowance or Carer’s Allowance now have to follow new rules. As part of giving Scotland more power, people who move there will have to follow different rules.
Changes to the rules for DWP benefits
The changes started in April, when the last cases of Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance were sent to Social Security Scotland.
The DWP said that people who get Attendance Allowance and move permanently from England or Wales to Scotland must now apply for the Scottish benefit called Pension Age Disability Payment. If you get Disability Living Allowance and move to Scotland, you should call Social Security Scotland to see if you can get the Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance.
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The changes also affect PIP and Carer’s Allowance, as well as all other disability benefits. The Scotland Act 2016 gave Scotland more power over social security, including the ability to run some benefits.
The Scottish government website says that they are using these powers to create a social security system in Scotland that is fair, respectful, and based on dignity.
PIP
Social Security Scotland has now moved all of the cases that were supposed to move from PIP to Adult Disability Payment.
Starting on November 6, 2026, anyone in Scotland who gets PIP must apply for Adult Disability Payment again.
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Carers’ allowances
Social Security Scotland has now moved all cases that were supposed to go from Carer’s Allowance to Carer Support Payment.
You should call Social Security Scotland if you haven’t gotten a letter from them saying that your benefit is changing from Carer’s Allowance to Carer Support Payment.
Attendance and Carer’s Allowance
As part of Scottish devolution, the Attendance Allowance will be replaced by a new benefit in Scotland called the Pension Age Disability Payment. Starting at the end of April, Attendance Allowance payments will automatically change to Pension Age Disability Payment.
People with disabilities can get a living allowance.
Social Security Scotland has now chosen all of the cases that are likely to move from the Disability Living Allowance to the Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance. If you live in Scotland and still get Disability Living Allowance, this is true. Call Social Security Scotland if you haven’t gotten a letter saying that your benefits are moving there.
