NHS Tax Credit Exemption Certificate

hellies · 23 September 2008 at 9:41PM

I have just received one of these in the post, backdated to april 2008.

I am a bit confused as to what this actually entitles me to. The letter says that I can get help with contact lenses, I have lenses on a direct debit scheme and its about £10 pm, can I claim this? I asked in specsavers today but they didnt know what I was talking about.

the letter seemed to outline what I can claim but didnt elaborate. Does this mean I dont have to pay for any dental treatment at all? I think I need a filling and was trying to rush it through as I am still on maternity excemption til february!

I have no idea where to get the forms from to backdate claims, I dont know where the benefits office is or how the system works there?

Please help!

Gemmzie · 23 September 2008 at 9:49PM

You get free prescriptions, eye tests and basic glasses (think the value is £49) and dental treatment.

I've never understood why they put down contact lenses as I don't know anyone who's ever managed to claim for them and a friend of mine used to work at the store you mentioned!

As for backdating claims, I think you needed to have asked for a FP57 when you originally paid for the item and then you can only backdate for three months without good reason.
I'm having the same problem with a backdated claim and not knowing how or what to claim and that's what I was told.

hellies · 23 September 2008 at 9:58PM

Thank you, its a bit clearer now!

The only thing i can backdate a claim for is lenses, so if theyre funny about claiming for lenses i'll probably be out of luck.

Sorry to keep asking questions, but can you have the £49 taken off the cost of nice glasses instead of taking the basic ones? i dont need new specs yet but will do in the new year probably

VfM4meplse · 23 September 2008 at 10:04PM

Get the full facts from the PPD website: http://www.ppa.nhs.uk/ppa/taxcredits_faq.htm

Don't let the opticians fob you off, if the counter assistant doesn't recognise the form, make him / her call the NHS Busines Services Authority to clarify your entitlement.

Prescriptions: you can't get backdated FP57s, they are only available from the pharmacy if requested at the time of dispensing and once your proof of exemption comes through take it back to any pharmacy and they will refund you the prescription charge(s) listed on the form. As you're still entitled to maternity exemption it doesn't sound like it applies to you. Next time you visit your local pharmacy with a prescription, present your proof of exemption and ask that the pharmacist makes a note of the details inc expiry date, that way you won't necessarily have to present it at that pharmacy on every occasion - but you will if you use different pharmacies.

SuziQ · 24 September 2008 at 12:20AM

I was told by my optician (an independant one) that I could only claim for contact lenses if they were the only suitable method of correcting my sight. I can't get on with lenses anyway so have never asked anywhere else,but he stated that lenses are considered a luxury sight correction unless it was the only way of bringing eyesight up to a minimum level.

Chimpfeet · 24 September 2008 at 5:33AM

hellies wrote: »

Thank you, its a bit clearer now!

The only thing i can backdate a claim for is lenses, so if theyre funny about claiming for lenses i'll probably be out of luck.

Sorry to keep asking questions, but can you have the £49 taken off the cost of nice glasses instead of taking the basic ones? i dont need new specs yet but will do in the new year probably

If your eye test isn't recent you'll probably need another one to get your NHS optical voucher. You can use this (They start from £35.50 depending on your prescription) to use against contact lenses or spectacles. If you are on a scheme I think they can suspend you scheme for 3 months and use the voucher as payment. If you go to Specsavers with your optical voucher you can get a pair of designer specs for about £40 with it.
Hope this helps!:D

msaquib · 3 November 2008 at 9:51PM

Hi,

I have heard from one of my friends that if you have a Tax Exemption card, you can get dicounted baby powder milk. You have to show the chemist, your exemption card. Is that true?

Thanks
MS

alison999 · 3 November 2008 at 11:04PM

msaquib wrote: »

Hi,

I have heard from one of my friends that if you have a Tax Exemption card, you can get dicounted baby powder milk. You have to show the chemist, your exemption card. Is that true?

Thanks
MS

Ive never heard that one before.

Asfor dental treatment it onlycovers you if you have a NHS dentist.

SuziQ · 3 November 2008 at 11:24PM

I believe you only get discounted baby milk if on working tax credit. I know that used to be the case when I was health visiting,they used to do the reduced price at my baby clinic.

alison999 · 3 November 2008 at 11:53PM

SuziQ wrote: »

I believe you only get discounted baby milk if on working tax credit. I know that used to be the case when I was health visiting,they used to do the reduced price at my baby clinic.

Ive heard of some kind of discount at the baby clinic but never at a chemist.

cw18 · 3 November 2008 at 11:58PM

My DD used to get discounted baby milk through the baby clinic because she was in receipt of IS -- and my younger GD is 3.5, so that's reasonably recent.