Please write to your MP - Sample letter, click here . The letter has been updated to reflect news & the

Welfare Reform Green Paper. Please write again.

 

Welcome to your website. 

We aim to offer guidance, information and support to those who are undertaking a review of their Disability Living Allowance, through sharing experience.

Though this site is focused on the HIV/AIDS community.  We are only part of the wider disabled community facing this process.  We actively share our site with other disabled groups through the forums on the Benefits & Work website.

See the message below from Ann Mitchell, Actress, one of our Friends & Supporters.

As is the nature of running a campaign. There are costs and so if you would like to help with the expense you can donate via Paypal. Thank you.

 

"I know, first hand, how much distress and anxiety this review is  causing to men and women with long term conditions such as HIV/AIDS,  Cancer and Mental Illness.  There has been great advances in medication  for many of these illnesses and the scientists have our profound  gratitude but there are side-effects and they can be debilitating both  physically and emotionally and deeply distressing.  The Government  doesn't seem to have taken this into account.  The stigma and ignorance  attached to HIV/AIDS in particular is still very real and the pain this  causes is great.  With no long term plans or solutions in place, I fear  that many  men and women will be forced onto lower benefits, or to take  low-paid work -given employers reluctance to offer any real   opportunities to men and women with ongoing health issues. I urge  EVERYONE to contact their M.Ps , voicing their concerns and continue to  support the important work being done by ThCell." -  May 2008. Ann Mitchell, Actress - Widows, She's Out, recently stage production of Angels in America & EastEnders.

Here you will also find "shared experience". Contributions from those who have or are currently undergoing the review.

If your claim for Disability Living Allowance was made under "Special Rules" and is over 3 years old you are likely to be subject to this process.  Initially it only applies to those under 55 years of age.

We aim to empower our community to help them deal with this.  As well as campaign for fairness for the medical and mental issues we face as part of this process.

Moving forward there are more changes happening to the benefits system. You may be aware that the "Employment and Support Allowance (EAS)" replaces many existing benefits - Income Support, Incapacity Benefit & Jobseekers Allowance.  Again we want to campaign to ensure the AIDS/HIV Community is dealt with equitably.

This requires one key component - YOU.

Only YOU can help make a difference.

Together as one voice we are louder, more visible and less able to be ignored.

Sharing your experience helps to build a greater network of support and body of evidence.

We all have one thing in common. We are all living and dealing with the impact of HIV/AIDS.

We want to fully harness new technologies to further pursue our campaign.

"Empowering our community is key. Helping people to stand up and be happy to be identified as HIV and having a supportive community. I am always guided by the need to overcome the stigmatism of having HIV." - John, Tcell.org.uk.

 I WOULD ADVISE YOU DO NOT STOP YOUR MEDICATION. IT MAY CREATE LONG TERM RESISTANCE ISSUES & WILL CAUSE ILL HEALTH.

  IF YOU DO STOP. DO SO UNDER ADVICE FROM YOUR CONSULTANT TO REDUCE YOUR RISK OF LONG TERM RESISTANCE.

The HIV medics are worried that people may stop their medication because of this. Stopping your medication is not likely to improve your chances with respect to any review you may be undergoing. It will merely put you, your loved ones & the NHS under pressure. 

If you require further information refer to your clinical doctor.