AQW 40134/22-27

Ms Paula Bradshaw
Alliance Party
South Belfast

Tabled Date: 09/02/2026
Answered On Date: 17/02/2026
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for Communities to detail any information provided to people (i) leaving Northern Ireland; or (ii) entering Northern Ireland from Great Britain, concerning the transfer of benefits, such as the Personal Independence Payment.

Answer:

(i) A person moving from Northern Ireland to another part of the UK can generally transfer their benefit record but must report their change of address to the relevant benefit paying office. People in receipt of a disability benefit who move to Scotland must inform the relevant office of this change and must make an application for the equivalent Scottish disability benefit. More information about the effect on benefits of moving within or outside of the UK can be found under the relevant individual benefit pages on the NI Direct website or in NI Direct's "Going Abroad" section.

(ii) Information on the transfer of benefits for those people moving to Northern Ireland from Great Britain can be found using the “Benefits: report a change in your circumstances” section of the GOV.UK website. This directs benefit recipients to the relevant Department for Work and Pensions office that should be notified. NI Direct's "Moving back to Northern Ireland" checklist also provides a summary of the necessary action required. Scottish disability benefit recipients planning to move to Northern Ireland should contact Social Security Scotland about for advice on claiming the equivalent benefit in Northern Ireland. More information on moving from Scotland can be found on the mygov.scot website.

Finally, the Department’s Make the Call service can also be contacted for further advice about any moves to or from GB, or abroad, and to ensure a person is receiving all eligible benefit support.