Case transfer guide: Disability Living Allowance (DLA) to Scottish Adult Disability living Allowance (Scottish Adult DLA)

A new benefit called Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance (Scottish Adult DLA) is replacing Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for all adults in Scotland. This is happening as part of Scottish devolution.

Scottish Adult DLA is only available to people who:

• are over 18
• already get DLA for adults from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
• live in Scotland

Clients cannot apply for Scottish Adult DLA. Their DLA will move to Scottish Adult DLA automatically. They do not need to do anything to start the move to Scottish Adult DLA.

From 21 March 2025, all adults in Scotland still getting DLA from DWP will move to Scottish Adult DLA.

Before Scottish Adult DLA was introduced on 21 March 2025, some people born on or after 9 April 1948 may have had their award moved to Adult Disability Payment.

This was so changes in their disability or health condition could be reviewed against Adult Disability Payment instead of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) with DWP.

Find out more if a client’s DLA is already moving to Adult Disability Payment.

Social Security Scotland have now selected all cases expected to move from Disability Living Allowance (DLA) to Scottish Adult DLA.

If you're supporting someone on DLA and they've not had a letter about their benefit moving, ask them to contact Social Security Scotland.

The process started in March 2025. It will take until the end of 2025 to move everyone’s benefit to Scottish Adult DLA.

Find out more about what will happen with a client’s benefit during the move to Scottish Adult DLA in the section ‘What happens during the move’.

If a client’s DLA award started moving before 21 March 2025, they’ll move to Adult Disability Payment. Find out more about DLA moving to Adult Disability Payment and what happens next.

Clients will keep getting their regular DLA payments from DWP until their benefit moves. There will be no gap in their entitlement.

Clients will be paid the same amount when their benefit moves to Scottish Adult DLA.

Clients may be paid more if their benefit starts moving because they’ve report a terminal illness to DWP. Read more about Scottish Adult DLA payments if the client has reported a terminal illness in the section ‘If a client is diagnosed with a terminal illness’.

Their Scottish Adult DLA might be paid one working day later than their DLA. If this is the case, we'll let clients know in advance so they can make any necessary financial plans.

How clients are paid

Social Security Scotland will pay Scottish Adult DLA the same way as clients get their DLA. This may be into a bank account or a different way of paying they’ve agreed with DWP.

Payment rates

Scottish Adult DLA is made up of the same 2 components, or parts, as DLA:

• care
• mobility

A client may already qualify for one or both components. They’ll get the same amount for the components they’re eligible for when they move to Scottish Adult DLA

Find out more about the payment rates for each component.

If a client is overpaid

A client may be overpaid Scottish Adult DLA if:

• their circumstances change and they do not tell Social Security Scotland
• they or Social Security Scotland make a mistake

If the client or the person acting for them is paid too much, Social Security Scotland may:

• take money back from them
• reduce or stop their payments

Social Security Scotland will look at cases of overpayment on an individual basis and will always contact the client before stopping payments. Find out more about benefit overpayments.

We can only make payments for any Social Security Scotland award into one bank account per client. DWP will give us details of the bank account their DLA was paid into.

If the client has used a different bank account for any other Social Security Scotland payments, we’ll call and then write to the client and find out which one they want us to use. If we cannot get confirmation from the client, we’ll default to the bank account their DLA was paid into. In future we’ll pay any other Social Security Scotland award into this account.

Any changes made by us will not affect where they receive any other benefits from DWP.

When their Scottish Adult DLA payments start, the client will see a reference in their bank statement based on their national insurance number and ’SSSSADLA’ for Scottish Adult DLA.

The client will not be getting paid DLA if they’re staying in legal detention.

However, if the client’s entitled to it, they’ll get paid DLA for 28 days after their benefit moves across to Social Security Scotland.

If they’re still in legal detention 28 days after their benefit has completed the move, their payments from Social Security Scotland will stop.

How long the move will take

When a client’s benefit starts moving, it will take 4 to 8 weeks to complete the move to Scottish Adult DLA.

Read more about how long the move will take for clients with a terminal illness in the section below ‘If a client is newly diagnosed with a terminal illness’.

Before the move

When it's time for the client’s benefit to move, DWP send them a letter. This will tell them:

• their benefit has started moving to Social Security Scotland
• when their DLA award will end

When their benefit starts moving, Social Security Scotland will send them an introduction letter called 'Your DLA is moving to Social Security Scotland'. The letter will tell them:

• what happens during the move
• when their Scottish Adult DLA award will start
• if they have a Motability lease, it will continue (read more about this in the section ‘Motability leases’)
• if they get Universal Credit, the client needs to tell them about the move (read more about this in the section ‘If a client gets Universal Credit’)

This letter will go to the address that DWP has. If the client thinks DWP have the wrong information for them, they need to contact DWP’s Disability Service Centre.

A client’s Scottish Adult DLA award starts the day after their DLA award ends.

During the move

During the move, DWP will:

• continue to manage the client’s DLA
• send Social Security Scotland information about the client’s DLA

During the move, Social Security Scotland may need to call or write to the client to confirm details like:

• their address
• their bank account
• if they normally live in Scotland

If Social Security Scotland does need to call the client, they’ll call from this number: 0800 182 2222. DWP will carry on paying their DLA until Social Security Scotland start paying them Scottish Adult DLA.

The client’s Scottish Adult DLA might be paid one working day later than their DLA. If this is the case, we'll let the client know in advance so they can make any necessary financial plans.

After the move

Social Security Scotland will send the client another letter when the move is complete. This letter is called ‘Your DLA has moved to Social Security Scotland’. This letter will tell the client:

• that their DLA has completed the move to Scottish Adult DLA
• how much Scottish Adult DLA they’ll get
• what date their DLA ends
• what date their Scottish Adult DLA starts

If the client recently reported a change in their condition or needs to DWP, Social Security Scotland will start to review their award after the move is complete.

DWP will manage the client’s benefit and payments until the move to Scottish Adult DLA is complete.

For clients born on or before 8 April 1948, if their DLA award is due to be renewed before their benefit starts moving, DWP will contact them.

The client should keep contacting DWP about their renewal until their benefit has moved to Social Security Scotland.

The client does not need to do anything. DWP will continue to manage and pay the client’s benefit.

The client’s benefit will automatically move to Scottish Adult DLA under Special Rules for Terminal Illness sometime before December 2025.

When their DLA starts moving, it will complete the move to Scottish Adult DLA as quickly as possible.

Social Security Scotland will not review their Scottish Adult DLA, unless the client asks them to.

Payments

If the client was born on or before 8 April 1948

When the client’s Scottish Adult DLA starts, they’ll get the same rate of the mobility and care components that they got for DLA.

If the client was born on or after 9 April 1948

The payment rates you’ll get for Scottish Adult DLA will depend on your age.

If you were under State Pension age on the date you were diagnosed with a terminal illness, you’ll automatically get the:

• higher rate of the mobility component
• highest rate of the care component

If you were over State Pension age on the date you were diagnosed with a terminal illness, you’ll automatically get the:

• same rate of the mobility component that you got for DLA
• highest rate of the care component

Check if you’re over or under State Pension age on GOV.UK.

Before you advise a client to report a terminal illness, read our factsheet for clinicians.

If a client is newly diagnosed with a terminal illness, the client or their healthcare practitioner needs to tell DWP as soon as they can.

The client can ask their doctor or healthcare practitioner to send DWP a Benefits Assessment under Special Rules in Scotland (BASRiS) form.

If they do not have a BASRiS form, DWP will still accept any one of the following:

• SR1 form
• DS1500 form
• a letter confirming that the client has a terminal illness

If the client already has one of these documents, they can send it to DWP themselves. Find out how to contact DWP’s Disability Service Centre.

What happens next depends on the client’s age.

If the client was born on or after 9 April 1948

When DWP get confirmation of a terminal illness diagnosis, they will start moving the client’s award to Scottish Adult DLA as quickly as possible.

Social Security Scotland will review the client’s award under their Scottish Special Rules for Terminal Illness.

If the client was born on or before 8 April 1948

When DWP get confirmation of a terminal illness diagnosis, they will review the client’s award under their Special Rules for End of Life.

If the client is awarded under DWP’s special rules, they’ll remain with DWP. The client’s benefit will move to Scottish Adult DLA sometime before December 2025.

If DWP do not award the client under special rules

The client may still be able to get Scottish Adult DLA under Social Security Scotland’s Special Rules for Terminal Illness. This is because the definition of terminal illness in Scotland is different to the rest of the UK. Find out more about what Social Security Scotland means by terminal illness.

If DWP do not award the client under their special rules, the client’s benefit will automatically start moving to Scottish Adult DLA. The client’s benefit will move to Scottish Adult DLA as quickly as possible.

Social Security Scotland will then review the client’s award under Scottish Special Rules for Terminal Illness.

If the client is awarded under Scottish rules, Social Security Scotland will typically pay them from the date they became eligible. This will typically be a date in the past. This makes sure the client gets the full award amount that they’re entitled to, from the date they were entitled to it.

The client will automatically get any additional payments they’re due. They do not need to do anything. Social Security Scotland will send the client a letter detailing any additional payments they’re due and how much these will be.

Scottish Adult DLA affects other benefits in the same way as DLA.

If the client gets Universal Credit

The client needs to tell Universal Credit about the move. This will make sure that they stay in payment.

To update their Universal Credit account, the client needs to either:

• sign in to their Universal Credit account
• call the Universal Credit helpline on 0800 328 5644

If the client gets other benefits from DWP

The move from DLA to Scottish Adult DLA should not affect other benefits the client may get from DWP including:

• Employment and Support Allowance
• Carer’s Allowance
• Income Support
• Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Pension Credit

If the client gets any of these benefits, they do not need to tell DWP that their DLA is moving to Scottish Adult DLA.

If a client has a severe visual impairment, but they’re not getting the higher rate of the mobility component of DLA, they may be able to get the higher rate of Scottish Adult DLA.

This is because the rules around severe visual impairment in Scotland are different to the rest of the UK.

How the client can find out if they’re eligible

To find out if a client is eligible for the higher rate of the mobility component, they need to contact Social Security Scotland as soon as they can in a way that’s right for them.

What they need to send Social Security Scotland

Once the client has contacted Social Security Scotland, they’ll ask the client to send supporting information from a medical professional to help understand if they’re eligible.

This information should confirm that the client has a severe visual impairment. Examples of supporting information they can send are:

• a Certificate of Vision Impairment (CVI) Scotland form, which the client can get from a registered ophthalmologist
• letters about assessments or referrals
• care plans or treatment plans
• letters about appointments
• medical test results
• letters about equipment or adaptations to the home
• letters from occupational therapists or physiotherapists
• official diagnosis letters from GPs or hospitals
• letters from hospitals or clinics

Find out how to send supporting information to Social Security Scotland.

Social Security Scotland will review the client’s award

Social Security Scotland will review the client’s award. They’ll send the client a letter to let them know if they’re eligible for the higher rate of the mobility component or not.

If the client is eligible for the higher rate

If the client is eligible for the higher rate of the mobility component, Social Security Scotland will typically pay them from the date they became eligible. This will typically be a date in the past.

This means the client will get the full award amount they’re entitled to, from the date they were entitled to it.

Social Security Scotland will automatically pay the client any additional payments they’re due. The client does not need to do anything. Social Security Scotland will include detail in their letter of any additional payments the client is due and how much these will be.

We’ll write to the client and ask them to confirm which details are correct. If the client does not respond then we’ll default to the details that DWP gave us.

Changes the client needs to report

The changes the client needs to report include changes to their:

• needs
• health
• disability
• condition
• personal details, like their address or bank account

If the client is newly diagnosed with a terminal illness, the process is different. The section ‘If a client is diagnosed with a terminal illness’ explains more about this.

If something changes before or during the move

The client must tell DWP if their details or circumstances change before they get a letter called ‘Your DLA has moved to Social Security Scotland’.

After they’ve told DWP about their change, what happens next depends on their age.

What happens next if the client was born on or before 8 April 1948

After the client has told DWP about the change, DWP will:

• contact the client if they need to send any information
• make a decision about the client’s Disability Living Allowance (DLA) award
• continue to manage the client’s benefit until the move is complete

The client’s benefit will move to Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance (Scottish Adult DLA) sometime before December 2025. When their benefit starts moving, it will take 4 to 8 weeks to complete the move to Scottish Adult DLA.

What happens next if the client was born on or after 9 April 1948

After the client has told DWP about the change, their benefit will begin the move to Scottish Adult DLA. It will take 4 to 8 weeks to complete the move.

After the move is complete, Social Security Scotland will look at the client’s reported change and make a decision about their award.

Complete a change of circumstances form

Social Security Scotland will ask the client to complete a ‘Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance Change of Circumstances’ form.

We’ll send the client this form in the post with a letter called ‘Your DLA is moving to Social Security Scotland’.

The information the client gives in this form will help Social Security Scotland make sure they’re getting the right amount for their needs.

If the client has lost the form or did not get one, contact Social Security Scotland and we’ll send them a new one.

Social Security Scotland will review your award

After the move to Scottish Adult DLA is complete, Social Security Scotland will start to review the information the client gave in the form.

We’ll send the client another letter once we’ve made a decision about the client’s award.

If your award increases

If the review leads to an increase in the client’s Scottish Adult DLA, Social Security Scotland may owe them an additional payment.

This is because the client’s entitlement may be backdated depending on when the change occurred and when they reported this change. Backdating means Social Security Scotland will change the date of the client’s higher award entitlement to a date in the past.

This means the client gets the full award amount they’re entitled to, from the date they’re entitled to it.

Social Security Scotland will automatically pay the client any additional payments they’re due. The client does not need to do anything. Social Security Scotland will include detail in their letter of any additional payments the client is due and how much these will be.

If your award decreases or stays the same

If the review leads to a decrease in the client’s Scottish Adult DLA, the lower rate will take effect from the date of the decision to reduce their award.

The client will not owe Social Security Scotland any money or be disadvantaged by the process of moving their benefit.

If the client feels the decision is wrong, they can ask Social Security Scotland to look at it again. This is called a ‘re-determination’. Read more about this in the section ‘If the client disagrees with their award’.

The client must tell Social Security Scotland if their details or circumstances change once they’ve got a letter called ‘Your DLA has moved to Social Security Scotland’.

Social Security Scotland will make a decision about any changes to the client’s Scottish Adult DLA award. This will happen regardless of their age.

Find out how to tell Social Security Scotland about a change.

After the death of the client is confirmed with DWP, DWP will tell us and the transfer will be stopped. We’ll write to the person who reported the death to DWP to tell them that we have stopped the transfer. If DWP do not tell us who reported the death, we’ll send this letter to the client’s address.

The client should tell DWP about any other changes that happen during the transfer, such as a change of address or name. DWP will then tell us about this change so we can update the client’s record.

Moving from DLA to Scottish Adult DLA will not affect any vehicle the client leases through Motability Operations Ltd.

Social Security Scotland will:

• tell Motability about the move
• take over payments from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)

If the client’s lease ends during the move, they can apply to Motability to renew their lease.

If the client does not currently lease a vehicle and they’re eligible, find out more about the scheme on the Motability website.

A client’s DLA will not automatically move to Scottish Adult DLA if they live outside the UK.

The client can contact DWP and ask them to move their benefit to Scottish Adult DLA if both of the following apply:

• the client lives in the EU, Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, Switzerland or Gibraltar
• the client has a ‘genuine and sufficient link’ to Scotland

A genuine and sufficient link is where a client does not live in Scotland but has a link to Scotland. For example, they have spent a significant part of their life in Scotland.

Find out more if the client is currently living in the EU, Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, Switzerland or Gibraltar.

We’ll stop the client’s benefit moving if they:

• do not normally live in Scotland
• live outside the United Kingdom in an eligible country and do not have a genuine and sufficient link to Scotland
• have died
• lose their entitlement to DLA

If the client is still eligible for DLA, they will continue to get DLA from DWP.

If the client’s benefit stops when it should not, call DWP to make sure the client will still get DLA.

When the client’s benefit moves from DLA to Scottish Adult DLA, they’ll usually keep getting the same amount.

The client might disagree with things like:

• how much they’re going to be paid
• the date their payments will start

If the client thinks their Scottish Adult DLA is wrong, they can ask Social Security Scotland to look at their benefit again. This is called a ‘re-determination’. A client can only ask for a re-determination once they’ve got a letter called ‘Your DLA has moved to Social Security Scotland’.

Clients have the right to appeal Social Security Scotland’s re-determination decision about their Scottish Adult DLA award.

Find out more about what re-determinations and appeals are.

Clients cannot withdraw their re-determination request once they’ve made it. This is because Social Security Scotland is legally required to complete the re-determination process and give the client a new decision.

How to request a re-determination or appeal

Find out more about how to request a re-determination or appeal.

DWP will tell us about the client’s communication preferences.

If the client has asked DWP to send them letters in braille or large print, we will send them letters in this format automatically.

If the client has asked DWP to send them letters in another format (such as audio recording or easy read), we’ll send letters in this format too. However it is not done automatically and can take a little longer.

We’ll send both a letter in plain English and a letter in the preferred language or format.

We can usually provide information between 2 and 4 working days in these languages:

• Polish
• Russian
• Romanian
• Arabic
• Urdu
• French

For some of our letters, it may take longer.

We can also provide information in other languages but it may take longer.

We can provide information in these formats:

• large print
• easy read
• braille
• audio recording

We can provide these services for clients who need them:

• British Sign Language interpretation
• text relay
• electronic note takers
• Deafblind interpreters
• communicator guide with Deafblind people
• lipspeakers
• palantypists

There are different ways to act on behalf of someone, including as:

• an appointee
• a third party representative

Appointees

An appointee is someone who has legal powers to act on behalf of someone who cannot manage their own affairs. This could be as a:

• Power of Attorney
• Legal Guardian
• Deputy

Find out more about being an appointee.

If you’re already an appointee

If DWP appointed you to act for someone who cannot manage their DLA, you can continue to act for them for their Scottish Adult DLA.

DWP will tell Social Security Scotland when the client’s benefit has moved from DWP to Social Security Scotland.

Social Security Scotland may contact you to review your role as an appointee after the client’s benefit has moved. Social Security Scotland may need to review your role because Scotland’s laws are different from the rest of the UK. They will not need to do this if you’re already the person’s appointee for a different Social Security Scotland benefit.

Your responsibilities as an appointee

Managing money

Keep any money you receive from Social Security Scotland separate from your own money. Make sure nobody else can access it.

You may want to keep records to keep track of payments and spending.

You should always spend the money in ways that benefit the person you’re acting for.

Making decisions

When you make decisions for them, think about their:

• needs
• past and present wishes
• feelings

Communicating

If you have difficulty communicating with the person you’re acting for because of their disability, contact Social Security Scotland to get extra support from an advocate.

Third party representatives

A third party representative could be:

• an interpreter
• a healthcare professional
• a family member or friend
• an organisation

They can help out with things like:

• filling in forms
• making phone calls
• checking progress of an application
• telling Social Security Scotland about a change

Third party representatives do not have legal powers to make decisions for someone else.

If you’re already a third party representative

If you’ve helped a person with their DLA in the past, Social Security Scotland will not find out about this from DWP.

Instead, the person you’re helping will need to contact Social Security Scotland to tell them that:

• you have been helping them
• they want you to carry on helping them

Your responsibilities as a third party representative

Social Security Scotland are not allowed to share some kinds of information with a third party representative, such as:

• bank account details
• details about the person’s condition

You can only act in this role for up to 3 months, unless the person gives permission for you to carry on for longer.

In some circumstances, if Social Security Scotland review a client’s award and the award increases, they’ll backdate that award.

Backdating means Social Security Scotland will change the date of the client’s higher award entitlement to a date in the past. This means the client will get the full award amount they’re entitled to, from the date they’re entitled to it.

Read more about when awards are backdated in the following sections:

• ‘If a client reports a change in their condition to DWP ’
• ‘If a client is diagnosed with a terminal illness’
• ‘If a client has a severe visual impairment

For independent support and advice, clients can contact Citizens Advice Scotland. Either:

• call them free on 0800 028 1456
• go to their website

If a client needs extra support with disability benefits, they can contact VoiceAbility. They’re independent from Social Security Scotland.

An advocate will listen to the client and try to understand their point of view and what the client wants to happen. They can help clients apply for benefits and make decisions. The client will still make any final decisions.

To contact VoiceAbility:

• call them free on 0300 303 1660
• visit their website at voiceability.org
• email SocialSecurityAdvocacy@voiceability.org

Clients can also ask Social Security Scotland to refer them to VoiceAbility.