Dental treatment and JSA

jar_adras

I was getting contributions based JSA a few months ago and during this period had some dental treatment. I have received letter from NHS saying individuals getting contributions based Job Seekers Allowance alone are not entitled to free dental treatment and that I have to pay the money for that treatment & it is a large sum of money.

I went to the dentist prior to the treatment filled in form for free treatment and showed them my JSA papers, they said yes you are entitled to free treatment and I went ahead.

At no stage prior to the treatment did anyone say to me that I was not entitled. I am not sure who does the assessment whether an individual can get free treatment i.e. who makes the assessment ?

Rather unfair to ask me to pay when no one told me that I was not entitled.

Any advice on how to respond to the NHS regarding this claim as it is a threatening letter.

Caz3121

someone can have £1m savings in the bank and a partner earning £200k per year and still be entitled to contribution based JSA for 26 weeks. The questions would be, when your CB JSA ends will you be entitled to income based JSA, if so you should still qualify for free dental treatment under the NHS Low Income scheme (details on the link from blondebubbles)

brook2jack

The nhs makes the decision who is entitled to free dental treatment not the dentist and it is your legal responsibility to ensure you sign the form in the right place. Dental surgeries should display posters about nhs charges and exemptions . Unfortunately dental staff are not experts on what benefit entitles you to free treatment and ultimately it is your responsibility to know.

If you are not sure when asked pay the charge and claim back as in future all forms will be checked and a fine payable ,of normally £100 , in addition to the charge. http://www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/1786.aspx?CategoryID=74

You will have to pay the charge , you signed the form claiming free treatment and ultimately it is your sole responsibility to be certain you are entitled to free treatment .

brook2jack

Here the back of the form you sign (this is a Scottish version but it's the same form of words for all and some of the forms look different).

You will note you also sign to say you will repay any charges and fines if it is found you are not entitled to free treatment. http://www.psd.scot.nhs.uk/professionals/dental/GP17draft.pdf

Here is an English version http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/AboutNHSservices/dentists/Documents/FP17-England-April-2012.pdf

jar_adras

Thank you all for the information.
I should have taken time to read the form & will make the payment.