Nhs dental charges penalty notice

tomtontom

moneysavingscouser wrote: »

I went through this after having treatment whilst on statutary sick pay, saw no box to tick and ticked I was on benefits (which would be more than SSP)

I got a letter stating I owed £300, nothing I can do so got payments reduced to 30 quid a month. Live and learn.

I got a £50 fine on top of the actual bill.

Each box relates to a specific benefit. Surely you knew you were making a false declaration?

You may have been entitled to assistance through the low income scheme.

dippy3103

SSP is not a benefit. It's sick pay.

skywalker77

Hello,thank you all for the information.I will ring them and ask if there is anything i can do.
I will let you know the outcome.
I am going to start another thread,as i need help with all this as i am useless at knowing what help and benefits i could be getting.

Louie65

I received the NHS exemption as I received Tax Credits (working and child). In August I had a checkup (£14) and as I had been going to the dentist for 10+ years I was simply given the usual form to sign. I have since received a bill for £84 (£14 dental charge and £70 penalty). This I have since learned is because I need to be in receipt of both tax credits to qualify but since my youngest went to university the child tax credit has ceased. Whilst I now acknowledge I signed the form in error it was signed in good faith and honesty and there was no intention to defraud.

I have no issue with paying the dental charge, the penalty seems unfair and excessive and represents a penalty of 500% of that which I should have paid!

McKneff

£14 seems a strange amount to pay. Band A is £20 plus . What was it for.

By the way, you should always start a new thread of your own.

poppy12345

Louie65 wrote: »

I received the NHS exemption as I received Tax Credits (working and child). In August I had a checkup (£14) and as I had been going to the dentist for 10+ years I was simply given the usual form to sign. I have since received a bill for £84 (£14 dental charge and £70 penalty). This I have since learned is because I need to be in receipt of both tax credits to qualify but since my youngest went to university the child tax credit has ceased. Whilst I now acknowledge I signed the form in error it was signed in good faith and honesty and there was no intention to defraud.

I have no issue with paying the dental charge, the penalty seems unfair and excessive and represents a penalty of 500% of that which I should have paid!

The onus is on the claimant to make sure they know what they're entitled to regarding free dental and prescriptions.

Darksparkle

You’d have signed the form confirming you agreed that if you provide false information then you may be liable for civil proceedings or prosecution. You provided false information whether you did it deliberately or not.

IAmWales

McKneff wrote: »

£14 seems a strange amount to pay. Band A is £20 plus . What was it for.

By the way, you should always start a new thread of your own.

Band 1 treatment is £14 in Wales.

Louie65, you can appeal the penalty but you don't have valid grounds for it to be successful.

Louie65

I understand and accept it was my fault for not realising that when child tax credit ceases so does the NHS entitlement. I received no notification from HMRC, NHS or dentist to alert me to this so I'm dumbfounded how I was supposed to know.

In the penalty notice it states: "You are not liable for the penalty charge if you can show that you did not act wrongfully or with any lack of care in failing to pay the NHS charge detailed above."

I will pay the penalty but I still maintain there need to be a bit of wiggle room for honest mistakes. I am made to feel as if I set out to defraud the NHS which really upsets me as I hold the NHS in the highest regard.

Darksparkle

Louie65 wrote: »

I understand and accept it was my fault for not realising that when child tax credit ceases so does the NHS entitlement. I received no notification from HMRC, NHS or dentist to alert me to this so I'm dumbfounded how I was supposed to know.

In the penalty notice it states: "You are not liable for the penalty charge if you can show that you did not act wrongfully or with any lack of care in failing to pay the NHS charge detailed above."

I will pay the penalty but I still maintain there need to be a bit of wiggle room for honest mistakes. I am made to feel as if I set out to defraud the NHS which really upsets me as I hold the NHS in the highest regard.

Did you hold a valid tax credit exemption certificate? That’s what is asked for to meet the criteria. If you didn’t hold a valid certificate or have proof through an awards notice that you met the criteria then it is you error. It is your responsibility to check if you are entitled, not for them to tell you that you aren’t.