diff --git a/src/fn/merge-contacts.js b/src/fn/merge-contacts.js
index 42670f16..b8973641 100644
--- a/src/fn/merge-contacts.js
+++ b/src/fn/merge-contacts.js
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ module.exports = {
     const args = parseExtraArgs(environment.pathToProject, environment.extraArgs);
     const db = pouch();
     const options = {
+      disableUsers: args.disableUsers,
       docDirectoryPath: args.docDirectoryPath,
       force: args.force,
     };
@@ -41,6 +42,7 @@ const parseExtraArgs = (projectDir, extraArgs = []) => {
   return {
     destinationId: args.destination,
     sourceIds,
+    disableUsers: !!args['disable-users'],
     docDirectoryPath: path.resolve(projectDir, args.docDirectoryPath || 'json_docs'),
     force: !!args.force,
   };
@@ -63,6 +65,9 @@ ${bold('OPTIONS')}
 --sources=<source_id1>,<source_id2>
   A comma delimited list of IDs of contacts which will be deleted. The hierarchy of contacts and reports under it will be moved to be under the destination contact.
 
+--disable-users
+  When flag is present, users at any deleted place will be updated and may be permanently disabled.
+
 --docDirectoryPath=<path to stage docs>
   Specifies the folder used to store the documents representing the changes in hierarchy.
 `);
diff --git a/src/fn/upload-docs.js b/src/fn/upload-docs.js
index 82ff738e..dc086827 100644
--- a/src/fn/upload-docs.js
+++ b/src/fn/upload-docs.js
@@ -1,9 +1,11 @@
 const path = require('path');
 const minimist = require('minimist');
+const semver = require('semver');
 
 const api = require('../lib/api');
 const environment = require('../lib/environment');
 const fs = require('../lib/sync-fs');
+const { getValidApiVersion } = require('../lib/get-api-version');
 const log = require('../lib/log');
 const pouch = require('../lib/db');
 const progressBar = require('../lib/progress-bar');
@@ -37,10 +39,8 @@ async function execute() {
 
   warnAndPrompt(`This operation will permanently write ${totalCount} docs.  Are you sure you want to continue?`);
 
-  if (args['disable-users']) {
-    const deletedDocIds = analysis.map(result => result.delete).filter(Boolean);
-    await handleUsersAtDeletedFacilities(deletedDocIds);
-  }
+  const deletedDocIds = analysis.map(result => result.delete).filter(Boolean);
+  await handleUsersAtDeletedFacilities(deletedDocIds);
 
   const results = { ok:[], failed:{} };
   const progress = log.level > log.LEVEL_ERROR ? progressBar.init(totalCount, '{{n}}/{{N}} docs ', ' {{%}} {{m}}:{{s}}') : null;
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ function analyseFiles(filePaths) {
         return { error: `File '${filePath}' sets _id:'${json._id}' but the file's expected _id is '${idFromFilename}'.` };
       }
 
-      if (json._deleted) {
+      if (json._deleted && json.cht_disable_linked_users) {
         return { delete: json._id };
       }
     })
@@ -125,9 +125,12 @@ function analyseFiles(filePaths) {
 }
 
 async function handleUsersAtDeletedFacilities(deletedDocIds) {
+  await assertCoreVersion();
+  
   const affectedUsers = await getAffectedUsers(deletedDocIds);
   const usernames = affectedUsers.map(userDoc => userDoc.username).join(', ');
   if (affectedUsers.length === 0) {
+    trace('No users found needing an update.');
     return;
   }
 
@@ -135,14 +138,24 @@ async function handleUsersAtDeletedFacilities(deletedDocIds) {
   await updateAffectedUsers(affectedUsers);
 }
 
+async function assertCoreVersion() {
+  const actualCoreVersion = await getValidApiVersion();
+  if (semver.lt(actualCoreVersion, '4.7.0-dev')) {
+    throw Error(`CHT Core Version 4.7.0 or newer is required to use --disable-users options. Version is ${actualCoreVersion}.`);
+  }
+
+  trace(`Core version is ${actualCoreVersion}. Proceeding to disable users.`);
+}
 
 async function getAffectedUsers(deletedDocIds) {
-  const toPostApiFormat = (apiResponse) => ({
-    _id: apiResponse.id,
-    _rev: apiResponse.rev,
-    username: apiResponse.username,
-    place: apiResponse.place?.filter(Boolean).map(place => place._id),
-  });
+  const toPostApiFormat = (apiResponse) => {
+    const places = Array.isArray(apiResponse.place) ? apiResponse.place.filter(Boolean) : [apiResponse.place];
+    const placeIds = places.map(place => place?._id);
+    return {
+      username: apiResponse.username,
+      place: placeIds,
+    };
+  };
 
   const knownUserDocs = {};
   for (const facilityId of deletedDocIds) {
diff --git a/src/lib/hierarchy-operations/index.js b/src/lib/hierarchy-operations/index.js
index 1dbaf149..036ac676 100644
--- a/src/lib/hierarchy-operations/index.js
+++ b/src/lib/hierarchy-operations/index.js
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ async function moveHierarchy(db, options, sourceIds, destinationId) {
         _id: sourceDoc._id,
         _rev: sourceDoc._rev,
         _deleted: true,
+        cht_disable_linked_users: !!options.disableUsers,
       });
     }
         
diff --git a/test/fn/merge-contacts.spec.js b/test/fn/merge-contacts.spec.js
index 03a6a963..6770d846 100644
--- a/test/fn/merge-contacts.spec.js
+++ b/test/fn/merge-contacts.spec.js
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ describe('merge-contacts', () => {
       expect(parseExtraArgs(__dirname, args)).to.deep.eq({
         sourceIds: ['food', 'is', 'tasty'],
         destinationId: 'bar',
+        disableUsers: false,
         force: true,
         docDirectoryPath: '/',
       });
diff --git a/test/fn/upload-docs.spec.js b/test/fn/upload-docs.spec.js
index 8dd57c55..10006238 100644
--- a/test/fn/upload-docs.spec.js
+++ b/test/fn/upload-docs.spec.js
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
-const { expect, assert } = require('chai');
+const chai = require('chai');
+const chaiAsPromised = require('chai-as-promised');
+
 const rewire = require('rewire');
 const sinon = require('sinon');
 
@@ -6,12 +8,17 @@ const apiStub = require('../api-stub');
 const environment = require('../../src/lib/environment');
 let uploadDocs = rewire('../../src/fn/upload-docs');
 const userPrompt = rewire('../../src/lib/user-prompt');
+
+const { assert, expect } = chai;
+chai.use(chaiAsPromised);
 let readLine = { keyInYN: () => true };
 userPrompt.__set__('readline', readLine);
 uploadDocs.__set__('userPrompt', userPrompt);
 
 let fs, expectedDocs;
 
+const API_VERSION_RESPONSE = { status: 200, body: { version: '4.10.0' }};
+
 describe('upload-docs', function() {
   beforeEach(() => {
     sinon.stub(environment, 'isArchiveMode').get(() => false);
@@ -41,6 +48,8 @@ describe('upload-docs', function() {
   });
 
   it('should upload docs to pouch', async () => {
+    apiStub.giveResponses(API_VERSION_RESPONSE);
+
     await assertDbEmpty();
     await uploadDocs.execute();
     const res = await apiStub.db.allDocs();
@@ -82,6 +91,7 @@ describe('upload-docs', function() {
     expectedDocs = new Array(10).fill('').map((x, i) => ({ _id: i.toString() }));
     const clock = sinon.useFakeTimers(0);
     const imported_date = new Date().toISOString();
+    apiStub.giveResponses(API_VERSION_RESPONSE);
     return uploadDocs.__with__({
       INITIAL_BATCH_SIZE: 4,
       Date,
@@ -117,17 +127,12 @@ describe('upload-docs', function() {
 
   it('should throw if user denies the warning', async () => {
     userPrompt.__set__('readline', { keyInYN: () => false });
-    await assertDbEmpty();
-    await uploadDocs.execute()
-      .then(() => {
-        assert.fail('Expected error to be thrown');
-      })
-      .catch(err => {
-        expect(err.message).to.equal('User aborted execution.');
-      });
+    const actual = uploadDocs.execute();
+    await expect(actual).to.eventually.be.rejectedWith('User aborted execution.');
   });
 
   it('should not throw if force is set', async () => {
+    apiStub.giveResponses(API_VERSION_RESPONSE);
     userPrompt.__set__('environment', { force: () => true });
     await assertDbEmpty();
     sinon.stub(process, 'exit');
@@ -156,11 +161,43 @@ describe('upload-docs', function() {
       expect(res.rows.map(doc => doc.id)).to.deep.eq(['three', 'two']);
 
       assert.deepEqual(apiStub.requestLog(), [
+        { method: 'GET', url: '/api/deploy-info', body: {} },
+        { method: 'GET', url: '/api/v2/users?facility_id=one', body: {} },
+        { method: 'DELETE', url: '/api/v1/users/user1', body: {} },
+      ]);
+    });
+
+    it('user with single place gets deleted (old core api format)', async () => {
+      await setupDeletedFacilities('one');
+      setupApiResponses(1, [{ id: 'org.couchdb.user:user1', username: 'user1', place: { _id: 'one' } }]);
+
+      await uploadDocs.execute();
+      const res = await apiStub.db.allDocs();
+      expect(res.rows.map(doc => doc.id)).to.deep.eq(['three', 'two']);
+
+      assert.deepEqual(apiStub.requestLog(), [
+        { method: 'GET', url: '/api/deploy-info', body: {} },
         { method: 'GET', url: '/api/v2/users?facility_id=one', body: {} },
         { method: 'DELETE', url: '/api/v1/users/user1', body: {} },
       ]);
     });
 
+    it('users associated with docs without truthy deleteUser attribute are not deleted', async () => {
+      const writtenDoc = await apiStub.db.put({ _id: 'one' });
+      apiStub.giveResponses(API_VERSION_RESPONSE);
+
+      const oneDoc = expectedDocs[0];
+      oneDoc._rev = writtenDoc.rev;
+      oneDoc._deleted = true;
+
+      await uploadDocs.execute();
+      const res = await apiStub.db.allDocs();
+      expect(res.rows.map(doc => doc.id)).to.deep.eq(['three', 'two']);
+      assert.deepEqual(apiStub.requestLog(), [
+        { method: 'GET', url: '/api/deploy-info', body: {} }
+      ]);
+    });
+
     it('user with multiple places gets updated', async () => {
       await setupDeletedFacilities('one');
       setupApiResponses(1, [{ id: 'org.couchdb.user:user1', username: 'user1', place: twoPlaces }]);
@@ -170,11 +207,11 @@ describe('upload-docs', function() {
       expect(res.rows.map(doc => doc.id)).to.deep.eq(['three', 'two']);
 
       const expectedBody = {
-        _id: 'org.couchdb.user:user1',
         username: 'user1',
         place: [ 'two' ],
       };
       assert.deepEqual(apiStub.requestLog(), [
+        { method: 'GET', url: '/api/deploy-info', body: {} },
         { method: 'GET', url: '/api/v2/users?facility_id=one', body: {} },
         { method: 'POST', url: '/api/v1/users/user1', body: expectedBody },
       ]);
@@ -190,13 +227,14 @@ describe('upload-docs', function() {
       expect(res.rows.map(doc => doc.id)).to.deep.eq(['three']);
 
       assert.deepEqual(apiStub.requestLog(), [
+        { method: 'GET', url: '/api/deploy-info', body: {} },
         { method: 'GET', url: '/api/v2/users?facility_id=one', body: {} },
         { method: 'GET', url: '/api/v2/users?facility_id=two', body: {} },
         { method: 'DELETE', url: '/api/v1/users/user1', body: {} },
       ]);
     });
 
-    it('two users disabled when single place has multiple users', async () => {
+    it('one user disabled and one updated when single place has multiple users', async () => {
       await setupDeletedFacilities('one');
       setupApiResponses(2, [
         { id: 'org.couchdb.user:user1', username: 'user1', place: [{ _id: 'one' }] },
@@ -208,11 +246,11 @@ describe('upload-docs', function() {
       expect(res.rows.map(doc => doc.id)).to.deep.eq(['three', 'two']);
 
       const expectedUser2 = {
-        _id: 'org.couchdb.user:user2',
         username: 'user2',
         place: ['two'],
       };
       assert.deepEqual(apiStub.requestLog(), [
+        { method: 'GET', url: '/api/deploy-info', body: {} },
         { method: 'GET', url: '/api/v2/users?facility_id=one', body: {} },
         { method: 'DELETE', url: '/api/v1/users/user1', body: {} },
         { method: 'POST', url: '/api/v1/users/user2', body: expectedUser2 },
@@ -225,6 +263,7 @@ function setupApiResponses(writeCount, ...userDocResponseRows) {
   const responseBodies = userDocResponseRows.map(body => ({ body }));
   const writeResponses = new Array(writeCount).fill({ status: 200 });
   apiStub.giveResponses(
+    API_VERSION_RESPONSE,
     ...responseBodies,
     ...writeResponses,
   );
@@ -236,7 +275,7 @@ async function setupDeletedFacilities(...docIds) {
     const expected = expectedDocs.find(doc => doc._id === id);
     expected._rev = writtenDoc.rev;
     expected._deleted = true;
-    expected.disableUsers = true;
+    expected.cht_disable_linked_users = true;
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/test/lib/hierarchy-operations/hierarchy-operations.spec.js b/test/lib/hierarchy-operations/hierarchy-operations.spec.js
index de35eaa6..34429c9e 100644
--- a/test/lib/hierarchy-operations/hierarchy-operations.spec.js
+++ b/test/lib/hierarchy-operations/hierarchy-operations.spec.js
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ const reports_by_freetext = {
   map: "function(doc) {\n  var skip = [ '_id', '_rev', 'type', 'refid', 'content' ];\n\n  var usedKeys = [];\n  var emitMaybe = function(key, value) {\n    if (usedKeys.indexOf(key) === -1 && // Not already used\n        key.length > 2 // Not too short\n    ) {\n      usedKeys.push(key);\n      emit([key], value);\n    }\n  };\n\n  var emitField = function(key, value, reportedDate) {\n    if (!key || !value) {\n      return;\n    }\n    key = key.toLowerCase();\n    if (skip.indexOf(key) !== -1 || /_date$/.test(key)) {\n      return;\n    }\n    if (typeof value === 'string') {\n      value = value.toLowerCase();\n      value.split(/\\s+/).forEach(function(word) {\n        emitMaybe(word, reportedDate);\n      });\n    }\n    if (typeof value === 'number' || typeof value === 'string') {\n      emitMaybe(key + ':' + value, reportedDate);\n    }\n  };\n\n  if (doc.type === 'data_record' && doc.form) {\n    Object.keys(doc).forEach(function(key) {\n      emitField(key, doc[key], doc.reported_date);\n    });\n    if (doc.fields) {\n      Object.keys(doc.fields).forEach(function(key) {\n        emitField(key, doc.fields[key], doc.reported_date);\n      });\n    }\n    if (doc.contact && doc.contact._id) {\n      emitMaybe('contact:' + doc.contact._id.toLowerCase(), doc.reported_date);\n    }\n  }\n}"
 };
 
-describe('move-contacts', () => {
+describe('hierarchy-operations', () => {
   let pouchDb, scenarioCount = 0;
   const writtenDocs = [];
   const getWrittenDoc = docId => {
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ describe('move-contacts', () => {
   const updateHierarchyRules = contact_types => upsert('settings', { settings: { contact_types } });
 
   beforeEach(async () => {
-    pouchDb = new PouchDB(`move-contacts-${scenarioCount++}`);
+    pouchDb = new PouchDB(`hierarchy-operations-${scenarioCount++}`);
 
     await mockHierarchy(pouchDb, {
       district_1: {
@@ -407,7 +407,7 @@ describe('move-contacts', () => {
       });
   
       // action 
-      await HierarchyOperations(pouchDb).merge(['district_2'], 'district_1');
+      await HierarchyOperations(pouchDb, { disableUsers: true }).merge(['district_2'], 'district_1');
   
       // assert
       expectWrittenDocs([
@@ -421,6 +421,7 @@ describe('move-contacts', () => {
       expect(getWrittenDoc('district_2')).to.deep.eq({
         _id: 'district_2',
         _deleted: true,
+        cht_disable_linked_users: true,
       });
   
       expect(getWrittenDoc('health_center_2')).to.deep.eq({
@@ -498,6 +499,7 @@ describe('move-contacts', () => {
       expect(getWrittenDoc('patient_2')).to.deep.eq({
         _id: 'patient_2',
         _deleted: true,
+        cht_disable_linked_users: false,
       });
   
       expect(getWrittenDoc('pat2')).to.deep.eq({