The case transfer process from Carer’s Allowance to Carer Support Payment
Individuals cannot ask for their benefits to be transferred to Social Security Scotland. Carer’s Allowance cases are selected for transfer when the client has a Scottish postcode as part of their Carer’s Allowance record, and based on a set of prioritisation criteria.
Individuals do not need to make a new application for Carer Support Payment for the transfer to take place. Instead, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) passes the information used to make the Carer’s Allowance award to Social Security Scotland. This information forms the basis for the individual’s Carer Support Payment determination . A determination is a decision we make about an individual's entitlement. These decisions come with rights of re-determination and appeal.
Once Social Security Scotland receives the transfer information from the DWP, they will send a transfer notice to the individual explaining all of the following:
- that their case has been selected for transfer from CA to CSP
- a determination to begin entitlement of CSP and end CA will be made within the period of time specified in the notification
- a determination will be made without the individual submitting an application (schedule 1, Part 2, regulation 4)
The transfer information received from DWP will be processed by Social Security Scotland before the entitlement start date. The individual will then be sent a determination notice, explaining:
- What their CSP entitlement is
- The reasons for the determination
- When their entitlement to CSP begins
- the individual’s CA award will stop immediately before the award of CSP begins so there is no break in entitlement
- when they should expect their first and subsequent payments
- what their rights are to request a re-determination or appeal (section 40 of the Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018)