money for my ticket. (Incidentally, World Wide Travel are one of the few companies who insure people with HIV and I highly recommend them). The policewoman who questioned me had nothing but understanding and compassion for the dilemma I was in. It made me wonder that when one is hassled at a US airport and in some cases not allowed in, is it because the immigration officer just happens to be homophobic? And it’s pot luck when you do get stopped. Hope you find this useful and love your magazine.
Michael Hebington, Langholm, Dumfriesshire, Scotland
Benefits are better
I am with Sid Sheehan (letters, PN November) in supporting people to get whatever help they are entitled to under the benefits system, but I disagree with his statement that people can now only do some paid work if they can “prove” it will lead to a full-time job.
If you are getting Incapacity Benefit or Income Support due to sickness, it is now easier to try out a bit of paid part-time work under the new ‘Permitted Work’ rules. You can now earn more and no longer need to have your doctor’s support before working.
Anyone can now earn up to £20 a week for as long as they like. Alternatively you can earn up to £66 a week (working less than 16 hours a week) for up to 26 weeks.
Another way of working while claiming under the permitted work rules is if you do “supported work”. This means work for a public or local authority, or a voluntary organisation, that arranges work for people with disabilities. Supported permitted work means also means working for less than 16 hours and paying no more than £66 a week; but there is no time limit in this case.
Anyone thinking of doing any permitted work needs to apply on an official form, usually within 42 days of starting the work. It is advisable to get specialist benefits advice first: you may lose some

benefits and possibly need to re-claim them.
The new rules are designed to be more helpful for people to make the change from benefits