I need to ask about exemption certificates

jaylee3

It's for a relative. Her husband works 30 hours a week. She is on ESA (chronic illness.)

She says their joint income is around £16,600. They have had tax credit exemptions on prescriptions, dental fees and optical fees, for being on a low income, and they have had a little card sent to them for the exemption every year since around 2008 when she first stopped work and the income dropped quite a bit.

Her son left home last year, (October time,) to live with his girlfriend (he is now 19,) and he works full time, and is no longer part of that household. (They have no children at home now at all, and it's just her and her husband.)

She went to pay for her dental treatment yesterday, (about £27 worth,) and they asked her what the exemption was, and she said 'tax credits,' and they put it all through. When she got home, she looked at the card, and it was out of date in August... 2 months ago.

She said she never noticed, and never thought about it. Her husband's is out of date too. (Also August... 2 months ago.)

This year, they have not sent another one. She never realised and never thought about it. She and he have had 3 free prescriptions since the card expired too!

Does anyone know why? Have they stopped sending them out? Or is she and her husband not entitled anymore? They get £45 a month working tax credits, and the income has actually dropped since last year, as they lost the child tax credits and child benefit for their son.

So surely they're still entitled? The income is still quite low.

Can anyone help or advise? Many thanks.

jaylee3

blondebubbles wrote: »

There is a flow chart here that shows eligibility.

http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/Documents/HealthCosts/Tax_Credits_flowchart_April_2014.pdf

Oh well her household income IS over £15,276 yes, (just over a grand over,) but she has not had anything from them to say she is not entitled now.

So do the facts that the income is over £15,276, and they have no school age children, (and the fact that they didn't get a certificate automatically,) mean that they no qualify for longer for free health costs?

Will they get any help at all?

As I said, their income is lower than this time last year, as they lost £300 a month in child tax credits and child benefit, when their son left college last July 2013.

nannytone_2

they can complete for HC1 for help towards health costs.
they need to sort out the fact that they have had treatment that they should have paid for, or they can be hit with a penalty

jaylee3

nannytone wrote: »

they can complete for HC1 for help towards health costs.
they need to sort out the fact that they have had treatment that they should have paid for, or they can be hit with a penalty

What does HC1 do then? How much does it give you off health costs?

And is she definitely not entitled to the exemption certificate anymore then?

And yes, she and her husband don't know what to do about having got 3 prescriptions and her £27 dental bill free.

Is it very likely that they will be found out?

Or would she be safe to just leave it, and start paying from now on?

I fear she may get into more trouble by 'coming clean.' It was about fifty quid's worth.

nannytone_2

there is a fair chance that she will be 'found out' and would have a penalty to pay on top!
a HC! form applies for help with health costs, be it full or partial.
if she fills one on she may then be able to claim back part or all of what she needs to pay for treatment since august

jaylee3

Thanks Nannytone.

Would this be at the doctors surgery then? (The HC1)

And how can she pay the £50-ish back? Without getting in the poop?

KxMx

You can get an HC1 form from any GP, chemist, dentist,or optician.

nannytone_2

http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/HealthCosts/Documents/HealthCosts/HC1_Scotland.pdf

jaylee3

KxMx wrote: »

You can get an HC1 form from any GP, chemist, dentist,or optician.

Thank you.

Are they likely to get much help on a joint income of £16,600, and should she ask about how to pay for the 3 prescriptions and the dental treatment she and her husband has had? (Just over £50 costs.)

KxMx

There are criteria and thresholds for help but the best way to find out is to make an application and see what the outcome is.

NHS BSA who run the scheme are very good at replying to emails and fb messages:

https://www.facebook.com/NHSBSAHelpWithHealthCosts?fref=ts

jaylee3

KxMx wrote: »

There are criteria and thresholds for help but the best way to find out is to make an application and see what the outcome is.

NHS BSA who run the scheme are very good at replying to emails and fb messages:

https://www.facebook.com/NHSBSAHelpWithHealthCosts?fref=ts

Thank you. :T

Thanks to you all.

One final question; just to clarify:

Am I correct in assuming that my relative and her husband are no longer entitled to the exemption card that gives her full exception from healthcare fees then?

Is this why it has not been sent? Because they passed the threshold of £15,200(ish)?

Because as I said, they gave received nothing to say their entitlement has stopped.