Free prescriptions - which benefits?

dag_2

Can people with DLA get free prescriptions like Income Support or is IS the only one to have this?

The only benefit that gets free prescriptions is IS.

I might be wrong - but I thought Pension Credit Guarantee Credit and Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance also qualify you for free prescriptions. But I'm quite certain that only means-tested benefits qualify you. Non-means-tested disability or sickness benefits do not qualify you for free prescriptions.

BUT ...

I would strongly recommend against deciding not to apply for certain benefits you might be entitled to, simply because you think it might disqualify you from free prescriptions.

Why?

Because, chances are, it probably won't disqualify you. You'll probably be entitled to prescription charge exemption under the NHS Low Income Scheme.

If your only sources of income are non-means-tested sickness or disability benefits - and if you would qualify for means-tested benefits if you weren't getting those sickness benefits - then you will almost certainly qualify for charges exemption under the low income scheme.

However - you need to claim charges exemption separately from your other benefits. You can find out how to do this here - http://www.ppa.org.uk/ppa/low_income.htm