Challenging a decision from Social Security Scotland
Last updated: 15/09/2025
You don’t have to sit in silence if you’re unhappy with the result of your benefit application. There are two stages to challenging the decision through Social Security Scotland, which we’ve outlined below.
Stage 1
What is a redetermination?
If you’re unhappy with the decision you got from Social Security Scotland, you will need to challenge it. The first thing to do is ask for a ‘redetermination’.
You might do this because you disagree with:
- the outcome of your benefit application
- how much you’re being paid
- when payments should start
You can ask for a redetermination on any of the following Social Security Scotland benefits:
- Adult Disability Payment
- Best Start Grant
- Carer’s Allowance Supplement
- Carer Support Payment
- Child Disability Payment
- Child Winter Heating Payment
- Funeral Support Payment
- Scottish Child Payment
- Short-term Assistance
- Winter Heating Payment
- Young Carer Grant
How do I ask for a 'redetermination' from Social Security Scotland?
You can request a redetermination by:
- calling Social Security Scotland free on 0800 182 2222 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm)
- filling in a redetermination request paper form and sending your completed form to:
Social Security Scotland
PO Box 10303
Dundee
DD1 9FY
For Adult Disability Payment and Child Disability Payment, you can request a redetermination online.
You have 31 days from the date you got a decision to ask for a redetermination of:
- Best Start Grant
- Carers Allowance Supplement
- Funeral Support Payment
- Scottish Child Payment
- Winter Heating Payment
- Young Carer Grant.
You have 42 days from the date you got a decision to ask for a redetermination of:
- Adult Disability Payment
- Carer Support Payment
- Child Disability Payment
- Child Winter Heating Payment
- Short-term Assistance
Sometimes Social Security Scotland will accept redetermination requests made late if you provide a good reason and as long as you request it no more than one year after getting the decision letter. If you do not provide a good reason, Social Security Scotland may refuse your request.
What happens when I ask for a 'redetermination'?
A new team at Social Security Scotland:
- looks at your original benefit application and the information provided.
- makes a new decision on the benefit you applied for
The new decision will cover things like whether you should get the payment, how much you should get, and from what date you should be paid. The team who makes this new decision will not have been involved in making the original decision about whether you should get this benefit.
Stage 2
What is an appeal?
If you disagree with Social Security Scotland’s decision on the redetermination, you can submit an appeal next.
How do I ask for an appeal?
You can request an appeal by:
- calling Social Security Scotland free on 0800 182 2222 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm)
- filling in an appeal request paper form and sending your completed form to:
Social Security Scotland
PO Box 10303
Dundee
DD1 9FY
For Adult Disability Payment and Child Disability Payment, you can request an appeal online.
For further information and advice on how to ask for a redetermination or an appeal please get in touch with our channels and to find out where you can get support contact us here.