Benefits that may assist a person living with HIV

KPS lists and provides fully interactive information on a number of DWP Statutory Benefits that a person with HIV, and/or their carer may be entitled to claim. There are also benefit information and forms in Acrobat PDF that can be downloaded and printed for you convenience.

This information is only a general guide to benefits and schemes, and is not a full and authoritative statement of the law. We have made every effort to ensure that the information on this website is correct at the date shown at the top of the page. However, changes in the law may make the website become gradually less accurate.

A person who is HIV-positive is likely to be able to continue their normal lifestyle and employment without special assistance, although they may well be prone to bouts of profound fatigue, depression and anxiety. For people who are symptomatic or has had an AIDS diagnosis, the situation becomes more complex. A person may succumb to a variety of illnesses, either separately or together, with bouts of hospitalisation followed by periods of remaining well.

No benefits are specifically designed for people with HIV or AIDS so they need to fit into the same rules as everyone else. Eligibility for benefits depends on a variety of personal circumstances. The information above is not intended as a comprehensive guide, it only draws attention to certain areas. Which may be a useful starting point and all the information is obtainable from Post Offices , Citizens Advice Bureaux and local Benefits Agency Offices. Employed, but too ill to work? Most employees who are unable to work because of illness will get Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) for the first 28 weeks. Some employees have a contractual right to Sick Pay from their employer and this will include SSP. Incapacity Benefit can be claimed by people who are not entitled to SSP or have exhausted their entitlement to SSP, but you must have enough National Insurance contributions. Severe Disablement Allowance is intended to help those who do not qualify for Incapacity Benefit and have been sick for at least 28 weeks.

The amount of benefits that a person continues to receive while in hospital as an NHS in-patient can depend on their length of stay. You should notify the relevant Benefit Offices when going into hospital and on your release. The DWP Leaflet 'Going into Hospital?' summarises the benefit charges and can be obtained from Post Offices or Benefit Agency Offices.

LOW INCOME BENEFITS

i. Income Support This is a means-tested benefit, so it depends on your income and capital. It is paid on top of other benefits or part-time (less than 16 hours) on limited earnings or to provide a basic income to meet your minimum weekly needs. If you are 'signing-on' as available for work you will receive income-based Jobseeker's Allowance calculated on the same basis as Income Support. Income Support is made up of three components: A personal allowance - cohabiting heterosexual couples are treated as one unit Premiums - an extra allowance for groups who have higher than normal expenses e.g. carer, disability or pensioner premium and Housing costs for those with mortgages but not for normal rent paid by tenants.        

People on Income Support or income-based Jobseeker's Allowance can claim Housing Benefit to cover 100% of their eligible rent and Council Tax Benefit to cover Council Tax. They may be able to get help from the Social Fund for Community Care Grants and Budgeting Loans. Also you can get free prescriptions, free dental treatment, fares to and from hospital and help towards the costs of glasses and legal aid. There is some help with milk, vitamins and school meals for claimants with children.

ii. Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Benefit is claimed from the Local Authority Housing and Council Tax Departments. These are means-tested benefits, so they depend on your income and capital and will provide help with rent, certain other housing costs and council tax.

iii. Disability Working Allowance Disability working Allowance is a means-tested benefit for people with a disability and working at least 16 hours a week but with low earnings. You must be getting a disability benefit or receiving recent Incapacity Benefit and have a physical or mental disability which places you at a disadvantage in getting a job.

iv. Help with health costs People who are getting Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, Family Credit or Disability Working Allowance are entitled to help with health costs through the low income scheme. If you are not receiving one of these benefits you may be entitled to help with paying health costs if you are on a low income. You will need to make a claim using form HC1 obtainable from Benefits Agency Offices, NHS Hospitals, Health Authorities and some doctors, dentists or opticians. Health costs include NHS prescriptions, NHS dental treatment, sight tests, glasses, contact lenses, travel to hospital for NHS treatment and NHS wigs and fabric supports. You can click here and/or use the Help with costs button adjacent for details about entitlement

v. Disability Living Allowance Disability Living Allowance is not a means-tested benefit, so income and capital are ignored. You can claim Disability Living Allowance whether you are in or our of work. It is non-taxable and can be paid on top of other earnings or benefits. It is almost always paid in full on top of social security benefits. Disability Living Allowance is divided into two parts: A care component - for help with personal care needs, paid at three different levels; a mobility component - for help with walking difficulties, paid at two levels. You can be eligible for either or both components. There are two ways to claim - the normal rules using the DLA claim pack and the 'special rules' (DS1500) where life expectancy is  deemed to be possibly short . This benefit can make a significant difference to your income and it also acts as a 'passport' to other types of help. It can qualify you for additional premiums on means tested benefits. Leaflet 'Disability Living Allowance' can be obtained from DWP Offices for information. You can ring for a claim pack on freephone number 0800 882200. If successful your claim will start from the date you requested the claim pack, on the above number.

N.B DWP Benefits available are continually changing. Although the above detailed are correct at the time of publishing, you should however clarify if there are any changes when attempting to give any advice regarding Statutory Benefits.

Further information on DWP benefits available for people living with HIV are available by calling the KPS help line.

Adjacent buttons link to information on DWP Benefits available