In the email this morning I heard of someone who has lost there entire Disability Living Allowance. A process that started in January. It has taken the DWP 6 months to deal with this.  Appeal is an option but what fails to be understood is that this brings with it pressure and stress as it involves preparing your case.  I always encourage people to appeal and an ORAL appeal rather than written. However I am also very aware of why people would not want to pursue this and fully support any decision they make.

This is the reason I will continue to use my efforts to raise the issues around HIV & benefits. Seeking a fair, properly considered case for those of us for which it is our only income.  I may have recieved a favourable decision but I see this as merely one hurdle passed this time around and now campaign for the future.

Though this was prompted by the "Special Rules Review".  I become more concerned with those who are making new claims today. As is the nature of any progressive illness, people claim when they need the help. I am concerned at the disparity HIV+ face filling in forms that are very general in nature. I am also concerned with one case that the DWP don't seem to consider the cumulative effect of many illness a claimant has in addition to HIV. 

I think I can generalise and say. It is not that we as HIV+ people feel we should be treated differently. But we absolutely demand we are treated fairly and properly. If that means changing the DWP process to fully inform decisions made completely consider matters from a definite perspective of HIV than so be it.  They can start with the general nature of existing forms, that skews this perspective.

John.