At the time that the Government abolished Disability Living Allowance (DLA), 10% of people living with HIV were in receipt of the benefit. The changing face of HIV in the UK means that there are new groups of people living with HIV who may benefit from extra-costs support. A significant proportion of people living with HIV have one or more long-term conditions, in addition to HIV.
People living with HIV can now expect to live a long life, but many will do so with a complex range of health needs and disabilities. Compared to the overall population of people claiming DLA, people living with HIV are less likely to be awarded PIP, less likely to receive and increase in their rate of benefit when moving from DLA to PIP – in fact, they are more likely to see a decrease.
The PIP assessment includes important safeguards for people who experience fluctuation in their health, a concern for many people living with HIV. However, the way these rules are applied through guidance may limit their usefulness. Where people living with HIV have approached advice and support services for help with PIP claims, their advocacy and support needs have been significant, encompassing the whole PIP journey in many cases. This demand is likely to increase, as the vast majority of HIV DLA claims are yet to be reassessed.
It is time to look again at Personal Independence Payment and whether the assessment design, criteria and current approach to scoring are suitable for a benefit designed to promote participation and independence.