HIV can affect anyone, regardless of their sexual orientation, race, gender, or age. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone between the ages of 13 and 64 get tested for HIV at least once. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with HIV, there is help, support, and assistance available to you. Below, you will find information about HIV and resources for living with HIV.
What is HIV?
HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. AIDS is the most severe stage of an HIV infection. HIV is spread through certain body fluids or sharing needles with a person who has HIV. The only way to know if you have HIV is to get tested. You can get tested at a medical clinic, substance abuse program, community health center, or a hospital. Click the HIV Services Locator to find an HIV testing location near you.
What is the treatment for HIV?
If you are diagnosed with HIV, it’s important to find an HIV health care provider. You can find an HIV health care provider using the HIV Services Locator. You should start treatment with HIV medicine as soon as possible after diagnosis. HIV medicine is called antiretroviral therapy or ART. ART lowers the amount of HIV in your blood to a very low level. ART cannot cure an HIV infection, but the medicine can help people with HIV live longer and healthier lives. HIV medicine can also lower the risk of HIV transmission.
Where can people with HIV or AIDS get help?
- The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program can help you get medical care and support services. These services are available if you are diagnosed with HIV or AIDS, you are low income, or have no health insurance. Medical services can help with health insurance, pharmacy, home health care, and mental health care. Support services can help with housing, childcare, home delivered meals, substance abuse and more.
- The Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) program can help with housing needs for people living with HIV or AIDS. If you have been diagnosed with HIV or AIDS and are low income, you and your family may be eligible for HOPWA-funded assistance.
- If you have HIV and cannot work, you may be eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance Benefits. Social Security pays benefits to people who can’t work because of a medical condition expected to last at least 12 months or result in death. Read their basic requirements to help determine if you are eligible. Click the Adult Disability Checklist to find out what information you need to complete the application.
- The Job Accommodation Network (JAN) can help employees and employers on workplace accommodations and disability employment issues, which includes resources for people living with HIV or AIDS. Click AskJAN.org or call 800-526-7234 (voice) or 877-781-9403 (TTY) to get one-on-one guidance.
- Call your state HIV/AIDS toll-free phone number to get connected with agencies that can help check what services you are eligible for and help you get them.
More Resources:
You can use the Benefit Finder to check if you may be eligible for other government benefits. The Benefit Finder is a free and confidential questionnaire that can help you check your eligibility for over 1,100 benefits.
