How do I get help with cost of glasses - on Income Support

Verdana

Hi, I'm not sure if this is in the right category, please move if it's not..

My partner's on incapacity benefit and i'm unemployed due to maternity commitments. I know i'm entitled to help with cost of new glasses, but I cannot, through all the Bureaucracy, find out where I get this help from. I read from the form HC1 that I do not need to fill it as i'm already on Income support. Do I just turn up at Boots and tell them I'm on benefits? We haven't really got any recent letters with both our names to prove that we are, because they are taking their time working out what we are entitled to atm, especially with the benefits overhaul.

Please could anyone shed some light on this. My 4 year old prescriptions are really out of date and I haven't got much money to spare. Thanks for reading!

Indie_Kid

You would need to provide proof, such as an award letter.

richard9991

Verdana wrote: »

Hi, I'm not sure if this is in the right category, please move if it's not..

My partner's on incapacity benefit and i'm unemployed due to maternity commitments. I know i'm entitled to help with cost of new glasses, but I cannot, through all the Bureaucracy, find out where I get this help from. I read from the form HC1 that I do not need to fill it as i'm already on Income support. Do I just turn up at Boots and tell them I'm on benefits? We haven't really got any recent letters with both our names to prove that we are, because they are taking their time working out what we are entitled to atm, especially with the benefits overhaul.

Please could anyone shed some light on this. My 4 year old prescriptions are really out of date and I haven't got much money to spare. Thanks for reading!

your ni number will do well it did for me at boots

emsywoo123

I was going to ask about this........does anyone know the value of the help? Does it cover cost of lenses and frames?

kizzy2010

not sure if you need proof, i had mine done at vision express last year when i was on income support. they asked me to fill in a form saying what benefits i was in receipt of. not sure of the value of the presrciption but i got the test the frames and lenses, plus one of their new (optional) eye tests where they look behind your eye, and only paid around £25 for all of it (£10 of that was the optional test due to family history of diabetes), so it would of cost around £15 without that.
hope this helps

Prinzessilein

I went to Boots Opticians last year, the test cost nothing (family history of glaucoma means free eye tests over 40) and the Optician decided I should now have two pairs of glasses - one for general wear and one for close reading/sewing. I am on benefits and my voucher paid for both pairs
(I had to push a little! The Boots guy offered me three or four pairs quoting an 'after voucher' price....and I asked to see the range that cost nothing with the voucher....I had a choice of about 6 different styles)

kirtondm

Your optician is required ( and paid albeit a few pence) by the NHS to ask to check your eligibility.

If you do not have proof with you , you should be able to still claim the voucher but the optician will cross a box on the form to indicate they have not seen proof.

NHS counterfraud may check up on you to check you are entitled to the voucher.

As long as you are definitely in receipt of income support then there shoud be no problem. Worth bearing in mind benefits such as incapacity and disability living allowance give no help with spectacles on their own.

Indie_Kid

emsywoo123 wrote: »

I was going to ask about this........does anyone know the value of the help? Does it cover cost of lenses and frames?

It depends on the strength of your prexcription.

emsywoo123

sh1305 wrote: »

It depends on the strength of your prexcription.

Oh really? Mine are quite strong. not sure what it equates too, but I was -4.25 in contact lenses

lisamummytoarchieplusbump

ive just got my glasses im on income support. i went with specsavers as i only popped in there to see what proof i needed and they just ticked the box to say they havent seen proof of my award done a free eye test and got £65 off the cost of glasses with the voucher

i chose £85 glasses so only had to pay £20 towards them

they have a list on their display saying about NHS voucher and saying what price the glasses you choose will be after the voucher so

heres the link
http://www.specsavers.co.uk/offers/NHS/

sunnyone

while we were waiting in specsavers I saw a couple who were asked what grounds they were claiming a free eye test, they said tax credits and produced a card like my prescription pre payment card as proof.

Does everyone who claims tax credits get a card for free glasses?