on low income - cant afford dentist - is this right?

Kai'sMummy

Hello everyone, my first post so please forgive me if I've done it wrong lol!
My boyfriend works exactly 16 hours a week and earns £100 gross - £98.99 net.
He doesnt live with me, he stops at friends, his moms, his brothers, basically anywhere he can as he is worried he cant afford his own place. Although he is on less than a lot of people I know on benefit, everything has been ok til now, however he has got MAJOR problems with his teeth (typical bloke scared of the dentist - hasnt been in over 3 yrs!). He applied for help with nhs costs, informing them of the £100 he earned, and yet it came back saying he wasnt entitled to any help (!!?) I just cant believe it as I dont pay due to being on income support - but I am on a similar amount of income to him. I dont have the form to hand, but from memory, he would have to pay about £15 for an initial appointment, and then between £45 to £90 for a treatment plan (please feel free to correct me on that one!). He is in great pain, and yet cant afford to get help as this sort of lump sum is unaffordable for him, and I am sure you cant pay dentists in installments!! Does anyone know if this is right? Is there any help out there or something he should be claiming which would mean he could get help with nhs costs?
Obviously, due to him being in pain, the sooner I can get this sorted for him the better!:huh:

dmg24

£100 is considerably more than what the govt say a single person should be able to live on, which is why he is not entitled to help with health costs.

I assume that you are receiving IS due to being disabled or a lone parent? If so, these will add premiums to the amount of IS received.

Oldernotwiser

Actually, as he doesn't have any rent, ct, bills etc to pay, he has considerably more money available to him than many people who work full time!

healy

It is possible to pay some Dentists in instalments but it is done through a finance company and they charge interest.

Oldernotwiser

If your local university has a School of Dentistry he may be able to get free dental treatment as part of their practical training. I'm not sure how quick this would be, though.

Soubrette

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

If your local university has a School of Dentistry he may be able to get free dental treatment as part of their practical training. I'm not sure how quick this would be, though.

There is a training school at Bristol - the dental hospital in Lower Maudlin Street. I think though, that they'll only see you on a once only basis.

Sou

Toothsmith

What exactly are his outgoings? £400 a month sound plenty to me for someone who sponges a roof over his head wherever he can.

And did he get any 'help' to buy all the stuff that got his teeth into such a state in just 3 years?

seven-day-weekend

My son is in a similar position (earning around £100 a week) and he has managed to pay his dental bills.

He doesn't pay much rent or any CT, but does have some bills to pay and has to feed himself..

Having said that, he goes every six months so he never has a HUGE dental bill.

Our dentist will allow you to pay as you go along, so if you need three appointments, you pay at the end of each one for the treatment you have received up to that point. If you spread the appointments out, it gives you time to budget.

LondonDiva

Where exactly does he live?

the max NHS bill should be £198 and change, so he should have time to budget the cost.

He may be able to afford a place to live if he worked more hours that the threshold for credit / benefits.

Kai'sMummy

"What exactly are his outgoings? £400 a month sound plenty to me for someone who sponges a roof over his head wherever he can.

And did he get any 'help' to buy all the stuff that got his teeth into such a state in just 3 years?"
not sure how helpful that answer was mwant to be Toothsmith! It kind of makes it sound like you assume his pain is self inflicted through sweets or worse....actually I wasnt going to mention it in my original post, but my boyfriend was attacked by three youths after he tried to stop one of them harrassing a young girl on a night out - he was celebrating passing his driving test.....since then he has suffered terribly with the teeth on the bottom right of his jaw (where he was kicked in the face) as two are now loose. I posted this telling him that there are some lovely people out there who are kind enough to help others......and then I read your reply!! What did my nan used to say?...."If you haven't got anything good to say, don't say anything at all".....

Kai'sMummy

By the way, to the others with well meaning messages, thank you very much, for example, we had no idea you could pay in installments - even if it is through a finance company- or that there are dentistry schools.....this was just the sort of help we were after so our thanks go out to you lovely people, you have helped a great deal.....we didn't know where to turn!