NHS Tax Credit Exemption Cards - still valid till end date if change of circumstances

Midnight_Tboy

Hi all.

Wondering if any of you guys can help me.

I have, until very recently, been working as a contractor.

As a result of my low taxable income, we have a NHS Tax Credit Exemption card giving us free NHS prescriptions and dental treatment.....thankfully not needed very often til now.

Anyway, the other half the other week told me she had tooth problems (aching jaw) though thought it may have been sinus infection. She's had her appointment today and turns out will need a couple of fillings.

Now that in itself is fine......however....my NHS Tax Credit Exemption Card is valid until around june/july of the year.....but I have just this week, been moved to a permanent full time position at work.

Now I haven't yet informed the tax credits of my change in circumstances....but obviously 'next tax year' I will not be eligible......but I'm wondering.......is my card still valid until the expiry date shown....or if the card will be null and void?

I'm in a huff with her now as I told her to get it checked and sorted when it started playing up but she left it several weeks til I started a new job.....

I've tried searching for info on the validity of the cards, but I can see no mention on any site, nor on the cards themselves about if circumstances change.....and of course, by the time the card expiry deadline is reached, my salary that has come in would still be below the threshhold.

The only information I can find about nhs costs is that you can be fined if try to claim for free when you are not entitled.....but as the card says its valid until 07/13...then am I still covered? And of course don't want to pay the cost (cos of other half delaying it til now) if can be avoided and if turns out I am still covered.

I'll no doubt have to ring tax credits office to notify them of a change in circumstances soon when I get chance too (and if their phone line ever answers when I try)

I'm thinking that I am still covered til June...seeing as there is nothing down on card, or paper or on sites that tell me it would no longer be valid due to starting a new job

Cheers guys/gals,

clairec79

With dentists if you are entitled to free treatment AT THE START OF THE COURSE it runs till the end of it (unless you miss an appointment) so as she was entitled at the start of treatment (when dentist signed form to say she needed fillings) they won't charge for the course.

When my son was coming up to 1 the dentist told me to book an appointment before his birthday as any treatment started while the maternity exemption ran carries on in the same way

Midnight_Tboy

Thanks Claire

I'm not sure (but presume based on the card being in date) if she is entitled now as it stands.

Her appointment at the dentist was today...(as was the checkup with the kids) (I told her to tell them beforehand that she was having a problem with teeth too and not just a checkup - but there you go(!))

I started the new job on Monday just gone......so if the cards are meant to be invalidated from the day you start a new job then guess that means I might be stuffed.....but if the card is valid until the expiry date as shown on the card then I should be fine

tomtom256

If you now earn too much to be entitled to the excemption then yes your card is null and void and should not be used, regardless of whether you have told HMRC of the change.

Kind of obvious that once you are no longer entitled as you have gone over the earnings threshold that it would be nulled.

To be safe I would discuss it with the issuer who are the only true authority on it's use and eligability.

Midnight_Tboy

Cheers Tom, yeah I'll have to try and clarify it with them, whilst notifying them of change of circumstances.

My taxable income for last year was way below the threshold...and whilst I still haven't had my contract through for the permanent job I started, for this year coming for this tax year it will be above.

I just asked the other half, for when she went for the checkup, that she was asked if she had a tax exemption card to which she'd said yes. I hope this may not lead into any fines if it turns out she should not of used it.......but that being said I have seen nothing to say otherwise yet.......what a confusing mess lol

Tigsteroonie

I always presumed that the cards were dated until July to allow for the Tax Credit Renewal process to go through & be completed, before a decision was made as to whether you were entitled to TC and thereby to the Exemption card.

Personally, I'd carry on using the card until the expiry date. OP, you're basing your presumption that you're not entitled to TC on your intelligent understanding of the rules - but what about people who don't understand TC? They'd wait until they receive a letter or their renewal notice says £0 later in the year before realising their entitlement has gone.

Does anybody at the DWP/HMRC/NHSBSA actually trawl through claims during the period April-June to see who they should reclaim costs from? I don't know, but I'd doubt it.

Midnight_Tboy

thanks Tigsteroonie.

I don't recall getting any conditions with the tax credit exemption card...certainly no information about how must stop using the card in certain scenarios or anything like that...so part of me thinks its ok to continue with it.....but of course wouldn't want to risk getting a fine, as not intentionally trying to claim.....though it really should be made clearer. In the past years when my roles have changed I've never been asked to stop using any cards when notifying them of changes in circumstances either (not that I asked as didn't even think about it back then).

I was going to call up a little before 8 but noticed the lines close after 8, and don't have any PAYE reference or suchlike anyways to give them as haven't received that info myself yet from new workplace

Horseunderwater

Tax credits are not based on current year income but on previous year so if your income for the year just ended is still below the threshold I would think that you should be fine to use the card for now. When you get the renewal pack in the near future then you can confirm this years income just gone and then give them a best estimate of what you will earn this year. Try to slightly over estimate then if you earn less there will be an underpayment due next year and not an overpayment. I think it will be fine to use the card and even if you did need to pay, it would be £49 for tier 2 treatment which is what a filling falls under and you can have upto 10 I think it is done under one treatment cost. So long as you do not kiss an appointment. This also includes a check up which is now £18. So perhaps you should get yours done too.

Midnight_Tboy

thanks......great advice.....yeah you're right...I probably best get myself checked up soon too, especially if it does turn out to be free anyway (but must admit I'm generally a dentist dodger)....and I always feel like they always seem to make up extra work for me to be needed (like silly mouth gum shields to use at night to stop grinding teeth, which I think would have otherwise been on tier 3 in the past).

If they turn around later and ask us to pay for any treatment between last week and the end of June/July then thats no problem....as you say, the cost isn't that extortionate at £49 if it needs paying (but always prefer it to be in my pocket ). I was more concerned to if they thought I would have been trying to claim fraudulently and add some £xxx fine on to any repayable bill

Horseunderwater

No hey should not fine you - they would just expect you to pay it back or at least that is what my experience was in the past.

Thomas_Hardy

Horseunderwater wrote: »

No hey should not fine you - they would just expect you to pay it back or at least that is what my experience was in the past.

That's wrong - they can fine up to £100 for wrongly claiming free treatment (and the fine for wrongfully claiming for level 2 treatment would be £100).

OP, you need to contact the NHSBSA and check whether you are entitled or not.