Welfare benefits

There is no specific benefit which is paid because someone is living with HIV.  But a person with HIV may be eligible for benefits because they are in poverty, because they are unable to work (because of sickness, disability, unemployment, retirement etc.), or because they have extra costs associated with childcare or disability.

Most people with HIV who receive benefits are claiming benefits which are quite unrelated to their health, such as Jobseeker’s Allowance, Housing Benefit, State Pension or Child Tax Credits.

The following section provides brief details of the key benefits which are linked to ill health. The information has been kept brief because government policies on social security are subject to frequent change, with the incoming Conservative/Liberal government especially likely to initiate substantial reform.

Organisations providing further information are listed at the end of the chapter. Disability Alliance is a national charity with particular expertise on benefits for people with a disability; their online factsheets and their Disability Rights Handbook are highly recommended.

Moreover, individuals should seek advice from a local HIV organisation, the national helpline run by the Terrence Higgins Trust (THT Direct 0845 12 21 200), Citizens Advice and other advice centres.

Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) is a relatively new benefit which has replaced Income Support paid on the basis of incapacity for work and Incapacity Benefit for new claimants. It is intended to compensate for lost earnings for people who cannot work because of illness or disability, and rigorous assessment is used to determine whether ill health means a person has limited capability for work. Many recipients are required to attend interviews with a job adviser and expected to take steps to return to the workplace.

Disability Living Allowance (DLA) is a benefit for adults and children with disabilities, and is intended to help with the extra costs associated with a disability. It is not means-tested or limited to people unable to work. A person living with HIV who has no or few symptoms is unlikely to qualify for DLA – for a claim to succeed, a person’s symptoms or side-effects must affect their care and mobility needs on a day-to-day basis. But if a person does have care needs (needing attention or supervision from another person for personal care) or mobility needs (needing help with walking), DLA is an extremely valuable benefit to obtain. Moreover, it is an important qualifying benefit to other benefits and premiums paid with them.

Previously, some people with HIV received DLA at a higher rate under “special rules” because at the time it was awarded, they were judged to have a terminal illness. However this is no longer usually the case.

Attendance Allowance is similar to DLA paid to someone with personal care needs. It will be awarded instead of DLA if the person is aged over 65 when they first apply.

If a person receiving Disability Living Allowance or Attendance Allowance has a carer, this person may be entitled to Carer’s Allowance and some premiums on other benefits. However the person being cared for may stop receiving a severe disability premium with certain benefits.

The “help with health costs” scheme allows people with a low income to get help with the costs of NHS prescriptions, dental treatment, sight tests, glasses and hospital travel fares. It is available to people receiving an income-related benefit, but also to people on a low income who are not entitled to other benefits (including people subject to immigration control). It is separately administered from the previous benefits, by the NHS Business Services Authority.