Guide to disability benefit claims for people living with HIV
NAT (National AIDS Trust) has developed guidance for people living with HIV on how to provide relevant evidence for new disability benefits applications.
The guide, created in partnership with the National HIV Nurses Association (NHIVNA), explains the importance of evidence from health and care professionals for the new disability benefits, Employment and Support Allowance (ESA*) and Personal Independence Payment (PIP**).
Around one in ten people with diagnosed HIV are receiving the current disability benefit - Disability Living Allowance (DLA), the majority receive DLA for both mobility and daily care needs, and most claims receive the higher rates of payment (indicated more severe needs).
As DLA is being phased out to make way for ESA and PIP there is the concern that due to the complex nature of the assessment process some people living with HIV will miss out.
Sarah Radcliffe, Policy and Campaigns Manager said: ”HIV is a lifelong condition which for some can seriously affect daily life and health. Benefits are there to help people when they can’t work or have extra costs associated with their disability but the system is complicated and can be intimidating. We are worried people might not access the support they are entitled to. We have created this guide to take people through the process step-by-step.”
The guidence can be downloaded here.
*ESA: A benefit for people who cannot work due to disability and/or long-term serious ill-health.
**PIP: Can be both for people in work and people not in work
Notes to the editor:
NAT (National AIDS Trust) is the UK’s leading charity dedicated to transforming society’s response to HIV. We provide fresh thinking, expertise and practical resources. We champion the rights of people living with HIV and campaign for change.
For further information please contact:
Suzi Price, Marketing and Communications Manager, NAT
020 7814 6733
suzi.price@nat.org.uk