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NHS low income scheme query
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Wolfsbayne
Posts: 514 Forumite
My father receives incapacity benefit for himself with his wife, my mother as his dependent. She is also disabled but only receives DLA in her own name. Recently he started receiving a small top up of pension credit.
Their HC2 certificate runs out in a few weeks so they promptly sent the form back requesting another. They have received a letter saying that because he receives pension credit they don't need a certificate, they just need to show the letter.
The only problem is, the letter doesn't have my mother's name mentioned on it at all. So they rang the scheme who told them it didn't matter, just show the letter. I emailed them on their behalf and got the same response.
Now, I know for a fact that any pharmacist, optician or dentist is never going to accept prove that someone is entitled to free nhs if their name isn't on the letter. Pretty simple really but the nhs low income scheme can't see a problem!
So what do we do now. My father is covered and is diabetic anyway but my mother has a lot of prescriptions each month for various problems, is developing cataracts prematurely (she's only 56 so a long way off getting a pension herself) and the optician needs to see her and prescribes new glasses every six months. So she needs proof that she is entitled but they don't seem to want to give her any proof. They can't afford to pay for things out of their own pocket and claim the money back but they shouldn't have to anyway.
Any advice?
Their HC2 certificate runs out in a few weeks so they promptly sent the form back requesting another. They have received a letter saying that because he receives pension credit they don't need a certificate, they just need to show the letter.
The only problem is, the letter doesn't have my mother's name mentioned on it at all. So they rang the scheme who told them it didn't matter, just show the letter. I emailed them on their behalf and got the same response.
Now, I know for a fact that any pharmacist, optician or dentist is never going to accept prove that someone is entitled to free nhs if their name isn't on the letter. Pretty simple really but the nhs low income scheme can't see a problem!
So what do we do now. My father is covered and is diabetic anyway but my mother has a lot of prescriptions each month for various problems, is developing cataracts prematurely (she's only 56 so a long way off getting a pension herself) and the optician needs to see her and prescribes new glasses every six months. So she needs proof that she is entitled but they don't seem to want to give her any proof. They can't afford to pay for things out of their own pocket and claim the money back but they shouldn't have to anyway.
Any advice?
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Comments
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- the info you have given may be wrong
- wrong only in the way that you may not to know that
- pension credit has two elements a (1) guaranteed part and a (2) savings part
If the person in receipt of pension credit [guaranteed] shows evidence to the chemist / dentist etc they will receive free treatment. This free treatment is means tested and paid to an individual not a household.
If a~n~other person in the household wishes to apply to Sandyford House by completing an application form which you can get from the doctor / dentist for a full help certificate [HC2], or a limited help certificate [HC3] or a prepayment certificate.Disclaimer : Everything I write on this forum is my opinion. I try to be an even-handed poster and accept that you at times may not agree with these opinions or how I choose to express them, this is not my problem. The Disabled : If years cannot be added to their lives, at least life can be added to their years - Alf Morris - ℜ0 -
Hi
yes, it is guaranteed credit
So she needs to send off a hc2 in her own name, explaining the situation to get the hc3? Because it was after they sent the form off together that they got this letter saying they don't need a hc3 and the helpline keep saying that the pension credit covers the person who gets it and their dependents, which she is.
Even though we keep telling them that the award letter for pension credit only has his name on it and only applies to him, they seem to think she doesn't require any proof in her own name and can use his letter. Which obviously can't be true.
I'll help her write out another form and stick a cover letter in explaining the situation and see what she gets told next time.0 -
your mum does not need to apply for an HC2, she would be covered under Pension Credit, what your father needs to do is call the Pension Service and ask for a entitlement notice/benefit breakdown (not sure which letter shows - think it is the entitlement notice) and this should come with your father and mothers name on it.0
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Wolfsbayne wrote: »Hi
yes, it is guaranteed credit
So she needs to send off a hc2 in her own name, explaining the situation to get the hc3? Because it was after they sent the form off together that they got this letter saying they don't need a hc3 and the helpline keep saying that the pension credit covers the person who gets it and their dependents, which she is.
Even though we keep telling them that the award letter for pension credit only has his name on it and only applies to him, they seem to think she doesn't require any proof in her own name and can use his letter. Which obviously can't be true.
I'll help her write out another form and stick a cover letter in explaining the situation and see what she gets told next time.
- yes send for one in her 'own right'
- there are two separate issues here (1) entitled to ref HC and she isn't and entitled, and (2) ref your dads guarantee element and she is
- the best way forward is to apply to Sandeford in her name the you will have resolute proof for either event, let the group know what happensDisclaimer : Everything I write on this forum is my opinion. I try to be an even-handed poster and accept that you at times may not agree with these opinions or how I choose to express them, this is not my problem. The Disabled : If years cannot be added to their lives, at least life can be added to their years - Alf Morris - ℜ0 -
Thank you both.
Will do what you both suggest and hopefully get somewhere with it all, will report back in a few weeks when we know where we stand!0 -
Help with National Health Service (NHS) charges
If your customer gets Pension Credit which includes Guarantee Credit, they and their partner can also get help with health costs, this includes:- free NHS dental treatment
- vouchers towards the cost of glasses or contact lenses
- travel expenses to appointments that an NHS doctor or dentist has arranged for you,
- free NHS wigs and fabric supports.
Wolfsbayne, your mum does not need to apply for an HC1, all they need is the entitlement notice from the DWP, the health board are correct in saying that all your mum needs to show that she is on the claim for Pension Credit. If you seen the back of the prescription one of the questions is you or your partner claim Guaranteed Credit of pension Credit, she has to tick yes to that question.0 -
What the health board were actually saying was that she should show Dad's current letter as proof which doesn't mention her at all on it. even though we kept telling them that her name was nowhere on the letter they kept saying that it doesn't matter show it anyway. No way would a dentist or optician accept a letter without their patient's name on it as proof they were entitled to free nhs.
I will get Dad to ring pension credit people as soon as he can and see if they can get a new letter out to him. why her name isn't on it in the first place is beyond me.0
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