NHS tax credit card

Dummie_2

My sister has just received a NHS tax credit card. Apparently it entitles her to free prescriptions and eye test. She thinks it also pays something towards glasses or contact lenses but is unsure as to how this works. Anyone know?

welshcakes

Hi Dummie

Are you sure she doesn't mean an Exemption Card? It looks like a little plastic credit card and has her name and NI number on it. That I know is issued where people are exempt from charges (we used to have them in Wales but now all prescriptions are free regardless of income).

I used to have one but tbh, I never carried it with me as my presciptions came from my local pharmacy so I just filled in the exemption declaration on reverse of prescip each time.

rachnbri

She'll get free prescriptions, eye tests, costs towards standard lenses (but not frames or tinted lenses etc) for glasses and dental treatment. Also wigs and fabric supports if the need arises! She should take the card with her if she is claiming these as a lot of places are becoming more stringent and will ask to see the exemption card.

montycat_2

hi
She can also claim travel costs if she has to travelkto hospital or ,out of area for treatment

JET34

I have never known anyone to claim for travel cost to and from hospital I wonser how much is not claimed per year.

jenchin66

I claimed for travel costs a few years ago, was travelling by train to the Brompton hospital once a month for about 2 years. Saved us a fortune for me and my daughter.

Dummie_2

welshcakes wrote: »

Are you sure she doesn't mean an Exemption Card?

Yes. That's the one!

rachnbri wrote: »

She'll get free prescriptions, eye tests, costs towards standard lenses (but not frames or tinted lenses etc) for glasses and dental treatment. Also wigs and fabric supports if the need arises!

Do you know how much she'll receive towards standard lenses (and I think contact lenses as well)? How does she know how much she's allowed to spend?

Also, am I right in saying that the goods supplier will receive their money from the NHS? She feels she's looked down upon when using it. If the supplier receives the money from the NHS then I will encourage her to expect a normal decent service.

montycat_2

I only found out about the travel costs from a Friend who has to go the same hospital and ,gets full Tax Credit .

I think alot of people don't know about it .

debnlee_2

i to have one of these cards and i wear contact lenses unfortunatley the card only covers glasses and examanations not any part of contacts!!!!

Glyndwr_2

The amount of the voucher towards lenses depends on the strength of the prescription & where you get the lenses from (optician / hospital). I'm not sure where to find any info about it though other than your optician.

debnlee - you should be able to get help with lenses as these are included in the NHS voucher scheme.

Edit:
Just found on old leaflet from 4/06 - as above, depending on the strength of prescription needed, vouchers per pair of glasses or contact lenses are for £33.70, £51.20, £74.90 & £169.10 for single vision. If you need bi-focals, the amounts differ again. If your glasses are prescribed by the hospital, different amounts again; and if you have complex lenses it is different again.

Then there are allowances for prisms, tinted lenses & photochromic lenses & special frames where clinically necessary.

So as you can see, no straightforward answer. Some chains have a small ranges of frames which, with lenses, will be free through the NHS voucher scheme.

April 07 HC12 explains costs.