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Free Prescriptions low income?

I currently get free prescriptions/eye tests/dentist as I am a single parent on wtc & ctc. However when my son leaves college I have read that I may still get free prescriptions & eye tests due to my recently diagnosed diabetes? I have also read that if you have a low income you can get free prescriptions/eye test & dentist? Does anyone know what is classed as a "low income" ... I can't seem to find a set limit anywhere.
0% credit card £1360 & 0% Car Loan £7500 ~ paid in full JAN 2020 = NOW DEBT FREE 🤗
House sale OCT 2022 = NOW MORTGAGE FREE 🤗
House purchase completed FEB 2023 🥳🍾 Left work. 🤗

Retired at 55 & now living off the equity £10k a year (until pensions start at 60 & 67).

Previous Savings diary https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5597938/get-a-grip/p1

Living off savings diary
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6429003/escape-to-the-country-living-off-savings/p1
«1

Comments

  • MrsManda
    MrsManda Posts: 4,457 Forumite
    edited 24 January 2012 at 12:16PM
    I think what counts as a 'low income' is depends on your household circumstances rather than being a definitive figure.
    http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/1130.aspx

    You are right that you will be entitled to free eye tests and prescriptions due to your diabetes (free presciptions are not available if your diabetes is controlled by diet alone).

    http://www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/895.aspx?CategoryID=68&SubCategoryID=157

    http://www.coleridgemedicalcentre.co.uk/Resources/FP92Amedical%20exemptiona.pdf
  • 166million
    166million Posts: 1,233 Forumite
    Debt-free and Proud!
    Here is the link for exemption criteria on prescrition costs: http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcosts/Pages/Prescriptioncosts.aspx
    **Debt Free as of 15:55 on Friday 23rd March 2012**And I am staying that way
    377 166million Sealed Pot Challenge 2018 :staradmin No. 90: Emergency fund £637
    My debt free diary http://http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=3630099
  • I currently get free prescriptions/eye tests/dentist as I am a single parent on wtc & ctc. However when my son leaves college I have read that I may still get free prescriptions & eye tests due to my recently diagnosed diabetes? I have also read that if you have a low income you can get free prescriptions/eye test & dentist? Does anyone know what is classed as a "low income" ... I can't seem to find a set limit anywhere.

    It will vary dependent on your financial circumstances and you will need to complete a HC1.

    http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/Illorinjured/DG_10018978
  • Thanks for your speedy replies :) I will away and look at those links now.......
    0% credit card £1360 & 0% Car Loan £7500 ~ paid in full JAN 2020 = NOW DEBT FREE 🤗
    House sale OCT 2022 = NOW MORTGAGE FREE 🤗
    House purchase completed FEB 2023 🥳🍾 Left work. 🤗

    Retired at 55 & now living off the equity £10k a year (until pensions start at 60 & 67).

    Previous Savings diary https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5597938/get-a-grip/p1

    Living off savings diary
    https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6429003/escape-to-the-country-living-off-savings/p1
  • 166million
    166million Posts: 1,233 Forumite
    Debt-free and Proud!
    MrsManda I somehow didn't see that you'd posted links before me. Sorry if you thought I'd ignored you!
    **Debt Free as of 15:55 on Friday 23rd March 2012**And I am staying that way
    377 166million Sealed Pot Challenge 2018 :staradmin No. 90: Emergency fund £637
    My debt free diary http://http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=3630099
  • Skint_yet_Again
    Skint_yet_Again Posts: 8,351 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Hung up my suit! Mortgage-free Glee!
    edited 24 January 2012 at 11:57PM
    http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/HealthCosts/Documents/HealthCosts/LIS_Requirements.pdf

    It looks like


    Single aged 25-59 [FONT=Arial,Arial][FONT=Arial,Arial]£65.45


    Lone Parent (any age) [FONT=Arial,Arial][FONT=Arial,Arial]£65.45[/FONT][/FONT]

    [FONT=Arial,Arial][FONT=Arial,Arial]Does anyone know if this is the net amount of weekly income they state you require to live on per week after "assessed requirements" and if your income exceeds this you do not get help??
    [/FONT][/FONT]
    [/FONT][/FONT][FONT=Arial,Arial]
    [/FONT]
    0% credit card £1360 & 0% Car Loan £7500 ~ paid in full JAN 2020 = NOW DEBT FREE 🤗
    House sale OCT 2022 = NOW MORTGAGE FREE 🤗
    House purchase completed FEB 2023 🥳🍾 Left work. 🤗

    Retired at 55 & now living off the equity £10k a year (until pensions start at 60 & 67).

    Previous Savings diary https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5597938/get-a-grip/p1

    Living off savings diary
    https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6429003/escape-to-the-country-living-off-savings/p1
  • MrsManda
    MrsManda Posts: 4,457 Forumite
    166million, don't worry about it - I end up doing it all the time.
  • Killmark
    Killmark Posts: 313 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Combo Breaker
    How claims are worked out

    Help is based on a comparison between your weekly income and assessed requirements at the time the claim is made (or the date the charge was paid if a refund is claimed).

    http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/HealthCosts/Documents/HealthCosts/LIS_Requirements.pdf

    It looks like

    Single aged 25-59 [FONT=Arial,Arial][FONT=Arial,Arial]£65.45

    Lone Parent (any age) [FONT=Arial,Arial][FONT=Arial,Arial]£65.45[/FONT][/FONT]

    [FONT=Arial,Arial][FONT=Arial,Arial]Does anyone know if this is the net amount of weekly income they state you require to live on per week after "assessed requirements" and if your income exceeds this you do not get help??
    [/FONT][/FONT]
    [/FONT][/FONT][FONT=Arial,Arial][FONT=Arial,Arial]
    [/FONT]
    [/FONT]

    Its after your core expenses like housing etc and the minimum the state says you need to survive.

    I.E you could have a 2 children, a household income of £21,000 (inc benefits) per year but because you have housing costs of say £800 per month you would likely still qualify for all your prescription costs.

    Very simplified example but based on someone I know. The HC1 form will let you calculate what your [FONT=Arial,Arial][FONT=Arial,Arial][FONT=Arial,Arial][FONT=Arial,Arial]assessed requirements will be so you can work it out yourself.[/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT]
  • KxMx
    KxMx Posts: 11,047 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Any form of diabetes means you can get free eye tests, regardless if treatment is by meds or just diet. If your diabetes is controlled by diet alone currently (you mention a recent diagnosis) then it's quite likely you will go onto meds in the near future anyway which means you will then be entitled to free prescriptions.

    The outcomes of HC1 are HC2 certificate (full help with health costs) and HC3 (partial help with health costs). The HC3 does not give free prescriptions and sets amounts that you have to pay towards each item before you can get help. The amounts are calculated by the excess between your income and the amount they say you can live on.

    You could also consider a Prescription Pre-Payment certificate if you have alot of items, available in 3 month or yearly cards, and if you opt for a year you can pay by Direct Debit over 10 months.
  • KxMx wrote: »
    Any form of diabetes means you can get free eye tests, regardless if treatment is by meds or just diet. If your diabetes is controlled by diet alone currently (you mention a recent diagnosis) then it's quite likely you will go onto meds in the near future anyway which means you will then be entitled to free prescriptions.

    The outcomes of HC1 are HC2 certificate (full help with health costs) and HC3 (partial help with health costs). The HC3 does not give free prescriptions and sets amounts that you have to pay towards each item before you can get help. The amounts are calculated by the excess between your income and the amount they say you can live on.

    You could also consider a Prescription Pre-Payment certificate if you have alot of items, available in 3 month or yearly cards, and if you opt for a year you can pay by Direct Debit over 10 months.

    Thanks for all replies...
    My tax credit exemption certificate is still valid at present. I am already on medication for my diabetes, but was just trying to work out if I could get free dental treatment once my tax credit exemption ends. Having looked at previous posts it looks like I will be just over the income limit.
    0% credit card £1360 & 0% Car Loan £7500 ~ paid in full JAN 2020 = NOW DEBT FREE 🤗
    House sale OCT 2022 = NOW MORTGAGE FREE 🤗
    House purchase completed FEB 2023 🥳🍾 Left work. 🤗

    Retired at 55 & now living off the equity £10k a year (until pensions start at 60 & 67).

    Previous Savings diary https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5597938/get-a-grip/p1

    Living off savings diary
    https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6429003/escape-to-the-country-living-off-savings/p1
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