Movinng and awards

Katy P wrote: Hi there.
If my son moves from England to Scotland,does he have to start from scratch again to get his ESA and PIP which he has been awarded for the next 4 years? Meaning, does he lose these awards and has to re apply all over again in Scotland?

Not at the moment, that doesn't mean he will in the future but it may depend on how Scotland takes responsibility for the benefits.

Gordon

Katy P wrote: So, if he moves, say in the next couple of months, would that mean his awards would just be transferred? I thought the Scottish system was different to ours in England? I wouldn't want him to lose his benefits,which he has gone through very anxious times to qualify for. Do you mean in the future it may change? why?

At the moment the same legislation covers both England and Scotland (Wales as well), if the Scottish Assembly wish to make changes to the operation of these benefits then they will have to pass legislation specific to Scotland, at the moment that hasn't happened and they will have include measures for claimants moving in and out of Scotland, but until they do there is no way to know what obstructions to moving that this might create.

So moving in the next couple of months should not be an issue, it may not be in the future either, we just can't say at the moment.

Gordon