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Question about paying for perscriptions?

ok heres the deal, i am a full time 21 (soon to be 22) year old student.

I have asthma and have to pay £5 ever other month when i need a new inhaler.

My question is...i recieve a studnent loan&bursary every month, and i also work part time (9 hours a week)
So i have never paid any taxes or National Insurance, so then doesn't this mean i'm entitled to free perscriptions??


If i don't reply right away it's because my mums computer is broke, and my laptop charger broke last night! Using a friends tower he gave us to borrow for now lol!
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Comments

  • Do you receive any kind of benefits?
    --><-- Sugar Coated Owl --><--

    If you believe, you will survive - Katie Piper

    Woohoo! I'm normal! Gotta go tell the cat.
  • Do you receive any kind of benefits?
    benefits? urm like what?
    i only get my student loan and bursary every month
    and my wages, but i only work 9 hours a week on 5.81 an hour
  • babs2008
    babs2008 Posts: 576 Forumite
    Uni students are not entitled to free prescriptions once they are 19+ I'm afraid.
    Looking forward to the future.
  • babs2008 wrote: »
    Uni students are not entitled to free prescriptions once they are 19+ I'm afraid.
    yes but the fact that i have never made any NI or tax contributions, as i don't earn enough? Doesn't that make me exempt from paying?
    Also i'm at college not uni
  • fuzzybear01
    fuzzybear01 Posts: 1,031 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    It doesn't matter that you haven't made any contributions, you will need to fill out a form to be assessed. The NHS exemption authority will decide based on your earnings and expenditures whether you can pay. Students rarely qualify as they take into account the fact that your bursary is for living costs
  • It doesn't matter that you haven't made any contributions, you will need to fill out a form to be assessed. The NHS exemption authority will decide based on your earnings and expenditures whether you can pay. Students rarely qualify as they take into account the fact that your bursary is for living costs
    but my bursary and loan goes to my mum and my debts every month, and my wages cover my travel
  • MrsTinks
    MrsTinks Posts: 15,239 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker Name Dropper
    Unfortunately they don't really tend to take that into consideration... If you spend more than your bursary then you're probably seen by them as living outside your means... Try applying as fuzzybear suggested - nothing ventured nothing gained, just don't hold out any hopes I guess is all we're saying :)
    DFW Nerd #025
    DFW no more! Officially debt free 2017 - now joining the MFW's! :)

    My DFW Diary - blah- mildly funny stuff about my journey
  • fuzzybear01
    fuzzybear01 Posts: 1,031 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    Debts aren't taken into account when they work out if you can afford to pay for prescriptions, if i remember correctly, when I looked at the form it was things like rent, mortgage, child maintenence that they take into account
  • hardpressed
    hardpressed Posts: 2,099 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    If I understand your post correctly it is only costing you the equivalent of 63p per week for your inhaler, that's hardly going to break the bank, if you lived in England each prescription would cost you £7.20.
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