Help with health costs and Universal credits

lkmc01

Hi


As a family on an income of £21,000 a year we get child tax credits and have done for 9 years. I understand that soon at some point we will be moved onto universal credits like many people. Thing which I'm finding a bit strange is that anyone getting universal credit now on the trails can get help with health costs (dentists and prescriptions etc) while those getting tax credits can not. Is this right?


http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcosts/Pages/nhs-low-income-scheme.aspx


So the sooner someone moves onto universal credits the better off they will be

[Deleted User]

Lots of people on tax credits get help with health costs if the family income is such to qualify http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/1040.aspx

And....

http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcosts/Pages/universal-credit.aspx

Anyone who is in receipt of Universal Credit up until October 31 2015 is entitled to full help with health costs. This is a temporary arrangement and the Department of Health will issue further guidance about future arrangements in due course.

lkmc01

I understand that some people on tax credits can get help but many cant. Why should those on universal credits get help until October this year when many on tax credits cant?

[Deleted User]

Probably because they couldnt be bothered to think up new rules and criteria to qualify if getting Universal Credit because they were wasting time and energy on implementing other aspects of it.

Icequeen99

They haven't been able to decide the new criteria for UC - so because the number of people on UC is so small they just passport everyone to the relevant benefits as it is easier administratively. It won't stay that way.

IQ

rogerblack

Icequeen99 wrote: »

They haven't been able to decide the new criteria for UC - so because the number of people on UC is so small they just passport everyone to the relevant benefits as it is easier administratively. It won't stay that way.

IQ

And the selection of the initial group of people on UC is such that they will have - typically - lower incomes, be younger, single and non-disabled and have lower health costs.

They have not simply switched whole areas onto UC from existing benefits - there is a whole raft of exclusions.