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When an individual in receipt of a Social Security Scotland disability or carer benefit moves to another part of the UK
Individuals who move permanently away from Scotland to another part of the UK continue to be paid by Social Security Scotland for 13 weeks after the move. This period is called the run on period (Scottish Adult DLA regs, Reg 48(1)).
The individual must:
- have been ordinarily resident in Scotland immediately before the move; and
- as a result of the move, be ordinarily resident in another part of the UK
- no longer be ordinarily resident in Scotland
The individual should be treated as though they are ordinarily resident in Scotland for 13 weeks following the move. For all relevant benefits other than CDP, the 13 week run on period commences on the date they cease to be resident in Scotland. For CDP, the 13 week run on period commences on the date they inform Social Security Scotland of their move, as long as they inform within 13 weeks of the move (Carer Support Payment regs, Reg 42(1)).
Legal Detention
If an individual moves away from Scotland to another part of the UK while in legal detention, and the move is as a result of their legal detention, they would not receive the 13 week run on payment. This is because their ordinary residence has not changed due to the move not being a voluntary change of residence. In these cases, individuals remain subject to £0 rating once they have been in legal detention for 28 days. In the case of CSP, their entitlement to CSP would end.
Alternative Accommodation
This section does not apply to Carer Support Payment. When an individual moves from Scotland to somewhere else in the UK, the case manager should take into account whether that person is moving to alternative accommodation. If the person is moving to alternative accommodation in another part of the UK, case managers should consider whether the Scottish award should be £0 rating once they have been in alternative accommodation for 28 days. Case managers should therefore consider the chapter on alternative accommodation in these cases.
Where the move means a caring role ends
This section applies only to Carer Support Payment. Where a carer moves out of Scotland this could mean that they are no longer able to provide 35 hours of care a week for the person they are caring for. In this situation their Carer Support Payment should end as they would no longer meet the caring hours requirement. Where the carer has moved out of Scotland with the person they are caring for, or is otherwise able to continue providing 35 hours of care a week to that person following the move, the 13-week run on can be paid.
Example of moving from Scotland to another part of the UK where the caring role continues
Marnie lives in East Lothian and receives CSP for caring for her mother. She informs Social Security Scotland that they will both be moving elsewhere in the UK to Manchester on the 30 June. As this means she would no longer be resident in Scotland from this date, Social Security Scotland should treat Marnie’s CSP award as though she were resident in Scotland for 13 weeks from the 30 June. Marnie would then need to apply for Carer’s Allowance within this time and, as her mother was receiving a Scottish disability benefit and moved with her as part of the move, she would need to apply for the equivalent DWP disability benefit.
Example on moving from Scotland to another part of the UK where the caring role ends
James lives in Hawick and receives CSP for caring for his younger brother. James is moving to London for part-time work, and his brother plans to move to a shared residential care unit for children and young people on 23 November, the same date of James’ move. James informs Social Security Scotland that his caring role will end on 22 November, the day prior to his move. As James will no longer be caring for his brother, he will cease to fulfil CSP eligibility criteria. His CSP award will end on the first day of the award week following the award week in which he stops caring for his brother (Carer Support Payment regs, Reg. 5).
Death of the cared for person during the 13 week run on – from 16 November 2025
This section only applies to Carer Support Payment. Carer Support Payment regulations changed from 16 November 2025. From, and inclusive of, 16 November 2025, if the person the carer is caring for dies at any point during the 13 week run on, the carer can be treated as being ordinarily resident in Scotland for a period of 8 award weeks after the first day of the award week following the award week in which the cared for person died. These rules will apply where a determination of entitlement is made after 16 November, including where that determination is related to a change of circumstances that occurred before 16 November 2025.
Where a carer has moved out of Scotland and is getting a ‘13 week run on’ of Carer Support Payment, and the person they are caring for dies, the carer can be treated as being ordinarily resident in Scotland for 8 award weeks from the first day of the award week following the week in which the cared for person dies .
This means that Carer Support Payment can continue for more than 13 weeks, or less than 13 weeks after the carer has moved out of Scotland, depending on the point in the 13-week run on that the cared for person dies, and whether the carer continues to meet other eligibility criteria.
Example: where support continues for more than 13 weeks
Margaret lives on the Isle of Skye. She lives with and cares for her elderly mother, June, who is terminally ill. They both move to Winchester to be closer to other relatives. Margaret informs Social Security Scotland that they moved from Scotland to England on Monday 01 December 2025. Margaret is treated as though she is resident in Scotland for 13 weeks from the 01/12/2025. However, on 09/02/2026, during the 13 week run on period, June passes away. Margaret can be treated as being resident in Scotland for a further 8 weeks from the first day of the award week following this week in which June passed away. She can be paid Carer Support Payment for a further 8 weeks where she continues to meet all of the eligibility criteria (other than the caring requirement). Margaret’s Carer Support Payment would therefore end on 11/04/2026.
Example 2: where support is paid for less than 13 weeks
Alastair lives in Edinburgh. He cares for his elderly father, Charles. Alastair and Charles move to Berwick on 04/01/2026 and Alastair informs Social Security Scotland and a 13 week run on can be paid from that date (up to 04//04/2026). On 02/02/2026 Charles passes away. Alastair is treated as being ordinarily resident in Scotland for 8 weeks from the first day of the award week following this week in which Charles passed away. He can be paid Carer Support Payment for this period where he continues to meet all of the eligibility criteria (other than the caring requirement). Alastair’s Carer Support Payment would therefore end on 04/04/2026 .