NAT
Original Article: bit.ly/1Ge7bdp
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.”
Full text of article available at link below: bit.ly/1Ge7bdp
