The UK government published a paper in July 2008 which proposed making a number of significant changes to the benefits system. These proposed changes, that will affect many people living with HIV, formed the basis of the new Welfare Reform Act recently passed by Parliament

NAT are calling for a benefits system which supports an appropriate standard of living to ensure that people living with HIV who are unable to work may live healthily and with dignity.

We know that a substantial number of people living with HIV rely on one or more benefits and there is a high level of anxiety about the impact of the proposed benefit reforms on HIV positive people. We therefore invested considerable time and expertise in preparing our response to the proposals.

NAT has submitted a formal response to the proposals which can be downloaded here. We are now monitoring the implementation of the act to ensure the needs of people living with HIV are considered by the Department of Work and Pensions.

Disability living allowance ("DLA")

NAT has significant concerns about the way in which the review of the DLA was undertaken and have raised our concerns at a ministerial level. We have also actively opposed the decision to extend the review process to over-65s.

If you are living with HIV and want to find out about the impact of recent changes to the special rules of the disability living allowance then please visit the part of our website dedicated to you.

To share your thoughts and experiences regarding HIV and benefit reform, please contact Eleanor Briggs, Senior Policy Officer: Eleanor.Briggs@nat.org.uk.  If you are living with HIV and have concerns about benefit reform then we would particularly like to hear from you.