Missed case transfers
This guidance is for:
- third sector community and voluntary organisations
- stakeholders
- local authorities
Use it to support clients living in Scotland who should have had their Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) benefit transferred to Social Security Scotland before 6 November 2025 but did not.
It tells you what clients need to do, who to contact and where to get support to make sure they get money they’re entitled to.
From 6 November 2025, the automated data sharing process used to transfer benefits from DWP to Social Security Scotland will no longer be available for:
- Adult Disability Payment
- Carer Support Payment
- Child Disability Payment
From 23 February 2026, the process will no longer be available for:
- Pension Age Disability Payment
- Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance (Scottish Adult DLA)
We believe all eligible cases will have been identified and completed transfer by the time these processes shut down.
However, this guidance should be used for the potential situation where an individual should have had their award transferred but did not. We’ll refer to these cases as ‘missed’ case transfer cases.
This might happen if:
- the address data held by DWP or the Department for Communities Northern Ireland (NI) was incorrect or not updated at the time of the move
- someone’s entitlement to a DWP award is identified after the transfer process for that benefit is complete
Becoming aware of missed case transfers
Social Security Scotland will only become aware of missed case transfer cases when they first receive information that a client’s award was not selected for transfer when it should have been.
This will likely come from the client themselves, but could also come from either:
- someone who supports them
- the DWP or the Department for Communities (NI)
- any other source
Social Security Scotland decision-makers will determine that date based on the facts of the case and any evidence available to them.
Missed case transfer client journey
Missed case transfer clients must self-identify. Their application to Social Security Scotland should ideally be completed by phone. There will be no other method to identify a missed case transfer client during the application process.
If they do not self-identify during the application process, the client will be processed as a new application. The client could potentially complete their application online and later contact us to tell us that their application is a missed case transfer.
If the client contacts DWP or the Department from Communities (NI) from 6 November to tell them they should be on a Scottish benefit, they’ll be treated as a missed case transfer. This is because we can no longer receive data from DWP to allow us to make a determination without application, therefore we need the client to submit a new application.
The client journey begins as follows:
- Client contacts DWP or the Department for Communities (NI) to tell them they have a Scottish address.
- DWP or the Department for Communities (NI) identifies the client as missed case transfer.
- DWP or the Department for Communities (NI) will send the client a disallowance (‘goodbye’) letter telling them:
- when their benefit will end
- to make a new application to Social Security Scotland
When the client calls Social Security Scotland to apply for the replacement Scottish benefit and tells the client adviser that their benefit has not transferred, their application will go through business as usual processing for new phone applications.
Select a relevant option:
Client is applying for disability benefits
Social Security Scotland will complete all steps of the new application process up to and including issuing part 2 for disability benefit applications:
- Adult Disability Payment
- Child Disability Payment
- Pension Age Disability Payment
Clients have 26 weeks to submit part 1 of their new application from the date Social Security Scotland becomes aware that the person’s DWP award did not get selected for transfer.
As Scottish Adult DLA is a closed benefit, we cannot accept new applications. DLA clients will need to provide their details to Social Security Scotland and complete a Scottish Adult DLA request form.
Part 2 of the application (or the Scottish Adult DLA request form) must be submitted within:
- 34 weeks of that date for Adult Disability Payment, Pension Age Disability Payment and Scottish Adult DLA
- 32 weeks of that date for Child Disability Payment
If the new application or request is completed within these timescales, or there’s good cause for applying later, their entitlement to the replacement Scottish benefit can start the day after their DWP benefit award ended.
This means Social Security Scotland can pay the client for the period between their DWP award ending and their Scottish award starting.
They’ll need to meet the usual eligibility rules throughout the period.
Find out more in policy decision-making guidance for the relevant benefit.
Client is applying for Carer Support Payment
Social Security Scotland will complete the full new application process for Carer Support Payment.
Clients have 26 weeks to submit their new application from the date Social Security Scotland becomes aware that the person’s award did not get selected for transfer.
If the new application is completed within these timescales, or there’s good cause for applying later, their entitlement to the replacement Scottish benefit can start from the first day of the award week in which their DWP benefit award ended.
This means Social Security Scotland can pay the client for the period between the first day of the award week that their Carer’s Allowance entitlement ended and their Carer Support Payment starting.
They’ll need to meet the usual eligibility rules throughout that period.
If missed case transfer status is not confirmed
The entitlement start date will stay as the original application date.
The case will continue to follow business as usual new application processing.
LEAP missed case transfers
This guidance covers all 5 benefits.
For Legal Entitlements and Administrative Practice (LEAP) cases, the client journey begins as follows.
From 6 November 2025, the automated data sharing process used to transfer benefits from DWP to Social Security Scotland will no longer be available for:
- Adult Disability Payment
- Carer Support Payment
- Child Disability Payment
From 23 February 2026, the process will no longer be available for:
- Pension Age Disability Payment
- Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance (Scottish Adult DLA)
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will:
- Carry out a LEAP exercise.
- Identify LEAP-affected clients with a Scottish address.
- Send Scottish client data to Social Security Scotland using the agreed form.
Social Security Scotland will then make a referral for a Scottish Administrative Exercise (SAE) on those clients.
The SAE team will review a case and check if the client has a Social Security Scotland benefit that replaced their DWP benefit.
Possible LEAP scenarios
There are 3 possible scenarios:
- If the client has a Social Security Scotland benefit because their benefit was moved as part of case transfer, Social Security Scotland will follow existing processes for LEAP/SAE case transfer cases and make a determination without application.
- If the client has a Social Security Scotland benefit but their benefit was not moved as part of case transfer, Social Security Scotland will following existing processes for SAE decision-making and make a determination without application.
- If the client does not have a Social Security Scotland benefit and were not part of case transfer, Social Security Scotland will follow the guidance below. The SAE team have the option to send a letter to the client inviting them to apply.
- If the client applies, their application will follow business as usual processing for new applications. Additional supporting information may be required. This is because we’ll get limited client data from DWP with no supporting information.
- We’ll identify LEAP-affected client applications from other new applications and add a marker.
The reviewing officer assigned by the SAE team will:
- Review cases.
- Notify clients and check for payment correction cases.
- Carry out payment correction case checks.
Backdating eligibility rules and payment correction
To be eligible for a backdated award, an individual must either have:
- had ongoing entitlement to a DWP benefit on the dates set out below
- become retroactively entitled to a DWP benefit for a period including that date
They must also:
- not have had their benefit award transferred or otherwise become entitled to the equivalent Scottish benefit
- not be a cross-border individual, and
- have made a new application within the timescales set out below
If an individual meets all those conditions above:
- for disability benefits, their entitlement to the equivalent Scottish benefit can begin the day after their DWP benefit ended
- for Carer Support Payment, entitlement should begin from the first day of the award week in which their Carer’s Allowance entitlement ended
The client must meet the usual eligibility rules for any past periods of entitlement.
There may be breaks in entitlement during this time.
| DWP benefit | Scottish benefit | Date client must have had DWP benefit award | Timescale for making an application for Scottish benefit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Disability Living Allowance for children | Child Disability Payment | Immediately before 7 July 2023 | 26 weeks for part 1 and 32 weeks for part 2 |
| Personal Independence Payment | Adult Disability Payment | Immediately before 6 November 2025 | 26 weeks for part 1 and 34 weeks for part 2 |
| Carer's Allowance | Carer Support Payment | Immediately before 6 November 2025 | 26 weeks |
| Attendance Allowance | Pension Age Disability Payment | Immediately before 23 February 2026 |
26 weeks for part 1 and 34 weeks for part 2 |
| Disability Living Allowance | Scottish Adult DLA | Immediately before 23 February 2026 |
26 weeks to provide their details to Social Security Scotland and 34 weeks to submit request form |
Deadlines for applications may be extended for cases with good cause.
The decision-maker will decide if there’s good cause relating to a late application.
Example cases: If a person does not have an ongoing entitlement to the replacement Social Security Scotland benefit
Example 1
Robert lives in Scotland and receives Personal Independence Payment (PIP). Due to an error with his address on the system, his award was not selected for case transfer before 6 November 2025.
Robert calls DWP to correct his address on the 20 November 2025 and DWP end Robert’s PIP award.
DWP send Robert a disallowance (‘goodbye’) letter telling them:
- when his benefit will end
- to make a new application to Social Security Scotland
On 30 November 2025, Robert calls Social Security Scotland to explain that his PIP award was ‘missed’ for transfer. He completes part 1 of his application for Adult Disability Payment over the phone.
Robert submits part 2 of his application on 10 December 2025.
The case manager reviewing Robert’s application decides they’re entitled to Adult Disability Payment and starts the Adult Disability Payment award from 21 November 2025. This is the day after the DWP award ended.
Example 2
Aisha lives in Scotland and receives Carer’s Allowance as she cares for her brother. An error with the address on file means Aisha’s award was not selected to transfer to Carer Support Payment before 6 November 2025.
When Aisha realises her award has not been transferred, she calls Social Security Scotland on 23 June 2026 to tell us that she lives in Scotland and still gets Carer’s Allowance.
The client adviser takes Aisha’s application for Carer Support Payment over the phone.
Aisha contacts DWP the next day and they end her award.
When the case manager is making a decision on Aisha’s application, they start entitlement from the first day of the award week that Carer’s Allowance entitlement ended. This would be 22 June 2026.
Example 3
Lauren lives in Scotland and her mother applied for Disability Living Allowance (DLA) on her behalf on 21 March 2020. The DWP denied the application.
Lauren’s mother never applied for Child Disability Payment.
Due to a Legal Entitlements and Administrative Practice (LEAP) exercise carried out by DWP, Lauren’s mother is told on 5 January 2026 that the decision to deny her DLA was incorrect, and DWP established retroactive entitlement from 21 March 2020 to 6 July 2023 (the day before DLA rules were changed so an individual must be present in England and Wales to receive it.)
Social Security Scotland will first become award of LEAP cases when DWP send over their client data.
Lauren is now 17 and her mother makes a new application for Child Disability Payment. She submits part 1 over the phone on 1 February 2026 and completes part 2 on 18 March 2026.
The case manager determines that Lauren is entitled to Child Disability Payment and begins her award from 7 July 2023.
Example case: If a person is currently in receipt of the replacement Social Security Scotland benefit
Drew applied for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) in September 2017. The DWP denied his application.
Drew submitted an application for Adult Disability Payment. He was awarded standard daily living and standard mobility on 8 April 2026.
Due to a Legal Entitlements and Administrative Practice (LEAP) exercise, Drew’s PIP award was retroactively instated from 27 September 2017 to 5 November 2025. This is because, from the 6 November 2025 PIP entitlement in Scotland is no longer possible.
This means if Drew had been given his entitlement to PIP correctly at the time, he would have been eligible for case transfer for Adult Disability Payment.
When Social Security Scotland become aware of Drew’s retroactive award, they make a determination without application for Adult Disability Payment.
After reviewing all the available information, the case manager determines that Drew was entitled to standard daily living and mobility rates during the gap between his PIP award ending and his Adult Disability Payment beginning. Therefore, they backdate the award to 6 November 2025.