Wtc & nhs dental costs

Great_Bitain

Hi,
Need some urgent advise please.

I was claiming WTC as a single person in 2014/15.
I worked 30+ hours as a self employed person & my self assessment accounts have always been up to date, so no issues there.

In October 2015, while on WTC, I needed some dental treatment.
I am registered with a local dentist as a NHS patient.
When I booked the treatment, I confirmed to the dentist that I was on WTC & they informed me that the treatment would be free for me. So I went ahead & had the treatment, which had the cost of £270.00. The dentist again informed that the treatment is free for me as I am claiming WTC. The treatment was carried out between October & December 2015.

About three months later, I received a letter from the NHS Dental Service, informing me that checks had been carried out & I was NOT entitled to free dental treatment & that I now had to pay the £270.00 for the treatment + £100 fine & further £50 fine if I do not pay by certain date.

I just don't have the money to pay this & have been put into a very serious situation, which is surely likely to put me in serious hardship.

I immediately started to make inquiries into this & no one will give me a straight answer.
I have so far contacted the NHS dental services, WTC, Job Centre Plus & the dentist where I had my treatment but no one wants to give the correct advise & instead keep telling me to contact some one else.

I was under the impression that because I was in receipt of WTC, I was entitled to free NHS dental treatment, just like free NHS eye tests & glasses, free medicine.

Also my total profit for the year 2014/15, after my allowance was under £16,000.
In fact I made a profit of just £950.00 for the whole year in 2014/15 & still I have to pay for the NHS dental treatment. Surely this is not right???

I have read all the paperwork that WTC sent me & no where does it state that I am not entitled to free NHS dental treatment.

Can some one please offer some advise on this matter & what to do.

Thank you.

Darksparkle

If you were entitled to it via tax credits you would have been givens an exemption certificate.

If on WTC only (no CTC) you need to receive the disability element of WTC to be entitled.

http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/Documents/HealthCosts/HWHC_Tax_Credit_flowchart_12.2015.pdf

You could apply based on having a low income - http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/1125.aspx

t0rt0ise

Great_Bitain wrote: »

I have read all the paperwork that WTC sent me & no where does it state that I am not entitled to free NHS dental treatment.

Yes, but does it say that you are entitled? It won't list all the things that you aren't entitled to, just the ones that you are.


The only thing you can do is to pay. I'd also have a word with the dentist and let them know that you aren't impressed with their advice.

McKneff

If they had said that you had to pay before they started the treatment, would you actually have refused it.

Even us pensioners have to pay full price for our treatment...

Londonsu

Did you sign this????
http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/Documents/DentalServices/A4_PR_V2.pdf


if you did then you would have read that it clearly states that
A Its your responsibility and not the dental practises to ensure that you have the correct entitlement to free treatment
B That TC on its own without a certificate is not a qualifying benefit you need a certificate which you only get if you actually qualify and as Darksparkle says you need the disability element of WTC to qualify
C you actually would have signed the declaration confirming that the information you gave was correct and complete and that you understood you would have to pay a penalty charge if it wasn't in fact the possibility of a penalty charge is mentioned twice

Alice_Holt

As Darksparlke suggests have a look at the NHS Low Income Scheme.
http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/HealthCosts/1136.aspx

Not sure if it can be retrospectively applied, but worth a look as your self-employed income is only officially known at the end of the tax year.

Give them a ring and see - 0300 330 1343.

Great_Bitain

To be honest, like everyone else, I did not read the small print, that I was signing, as was informed by the dentist "you do not have to pay for your treatment". That was good enough!
If I had known, beforehand, that I had to pay for the dental treatment, I would NOT had gone ahead with it as simply I would have known I could not afford it.

I was also under the impression that because my total income for the year was well below £16,000, the treatment would be free, just like eye tests & glasses.
So am I correct in saying, my total income for the year(well less that £16,000) has no bearing on my free treatment???

I have also been to the local JSA office, with my accounts & they informed me because I have less than £16,000 income, my dental treatment should be free. I am totally confused as to who is right & who is wrong & no one can offer a straight answer.

I have already applied for the NHS low income scheme, but because it has taken sooooo long trying to get an correct information from anybody, the NHS are now saying, I have missed the three month dead line to claim, from the date of my treatment.

I called the WTC helpline & sorry to say, they offered no help at all & just sent me a copy of my application for WTC, which I already had. What good is that to me/ how does that help???

So far, The Dentist said I do NOT have to pay.
The JSA office said I do NOT have to pay.
The NHS said I DO have to pay.
The WTC cannot tell me if I have to pay or not.

I have now received threatening letters from NHS of legal action If I do not make payments to clear the debt.
Totally confused & suffering hardship.

Darksparkle

Great_Bitain wrote: »

To be honest, like everyone else, I did not read the small print, that I was signing, as was informed by the dentist "you do not have to pay for your treatment". That was good enough!
If I had known, beforehand, that I had to pay for the dental treatment, I would NOT had gone ahead with it as simply I would have known I could not afford it.

I was also under the impression that because my total income for the year was well below £16,000, the treatment would be free, just like eye tests & glasses.
So am I correct in saying, my total income for the year(well less that £16,000) has no bearing on my free treatment???

I have also been to the local JSA office, with my accounts & they informed me because I have less than £16,000 income, my dental treatment should be free. I am totally confused as to who is right & who is wrong & no one can offer a straight answer.

I have already applied for the NHS low income scheme, but because it has taken sooooo long trying to get an correct information from anybody, the NHS are now saying, I have missed the three month dead line to claim, from the date of my treatment.

I called the WTC helpline & sorry to say, they offered no help at all & just sent me a copy of my application for WTC, which I already had. What good is that to me/ how does that help???

So far, The Dentist said I do NOT have to pay.
The JSA office said I do NOT have to pay.
The NHS said I DO have to pay.
The WTC cannot tell me if I have to pay or not.

I have now received threatening letters from NHS of legal action If I do not make payments to clear the debt.
Totally confused & suffering hardship.

I'm provided you with a link to show who is entitled to it via tax credits. It is very clear.

sheramber

Neither the dentist nor the JSA have given you the correct information.

ONLY NHS decide of you qualify to not pay. It is their rules which are detailed in the link given above.

incidently, you also need to pay for eye tests and glasses unless you have an exemption certificate- which you don't qualify for - or a low income certificate which will state how much of the total cost you have to pay.

The Scheme provides income related help to people who are not automatically exempt from charges but who may be entitled to full or partial help if they have a low income.
The NHS Low Income Scheme covers:
NHS prescriptions
NHS dental treatment
Sight tests, glasses and contact lenses
Travel to receive NHS treatment
NHS wigs and fabric supports

Londonsu

Great_Bitain wrote: »

To be honest, like everyone else, I did not read the small print, that I was signing, as was informed by the dentist "you do not have to pay for your treatment". That was good enough!
If I had known, beforehand, that I had to pay for the dental treatment, I would NOT had gone ahead with it as simply I would have known I could not afford it.

I was also under the impression that because my total income for the year was well below £16,000, the treatment would be free, just like eye tests & glasses.
So am I correct in saying, my total income for the year(well less that £16,000) has no bearing on my free treatment???

I have also been to the local JSA office, with my accounts & they informed me because I have less than £16,000 income, my dental treatment should be free. I am totally confused as to who is right & who is wrong & no one can offer a straight answer.

I have already applied for the NHS low income scheme, but because it has taken sooooo long trying to get an correct information from anybody, the NHS are now saying, I have missed the three month dead line to claim, from the date of my treatment.

I called the WTC helpline & sorry to say, they offered no help at all & just sent me a copy of my application for WTC, which I already had. What good is that to me/ how does that help???

So far, The Dentist said I do NOT have to pay.
The JSA office said I do NOT have to pay.
The NHS said I DO have to pay.
The WTC cannot tell me if I have to pay or not.

I have now received threatening letters from NHS of legal action If I do not make payments to clear the debt.
Totally confused & suffering hardship.

If you had actually read the 'small print' you would noticed this which is quite clear ' you must read this form BEFORE you sign it, only sign it if it is correct and then it goes on to say 'the patient is responsible for the accuracy of this claim not the dental practise' the fact that you didn't bother to read it is on you not sure why you think 'everybody else' is like you, I personally read everything before I sign.


And yes an income of well under 16k MAY enable you to get free treatment, but you have to show proof of your income that's why you have to apply for the low income scheme no-one is just going to take your word about your income, its the same for all income based benefits


And also not sure why you are saying that you are entitled to free eye tests and glasses these have the same criteria as all other NHS services, again you have to show proof of low income or have the correct exemption
http://www.nhs.uk/chq/pages/895.aspx?CategoryID=68&SubCategoryID=157

Darksparkle

Londonsu wrote: »

If you had actually read the 'small print' you would noticed this which is quite clear ' you must read this form BEFORE you sign it, only sign it if it is correct and then it goes on to say 'the patient is responsible for the accuracy of this claim not the dental practise' the fact that you didn't bother to read it is on you not sure why you think 'everybody else' is like you, I personally read everything before I sign.


And yes an income of well under 16k MAY enable you to get free treatment, but you have to show proof of your income that's why you have to apply for the low income scheme no-one is just going to take your word about your income, its the same for all income based benefits


And also not sure why you are saying that you are entitled to free eye tests and glasses these have the same criteria as all other NHS services, again you have to show proof of low income or have the correct exemption
http://www.nhs.uk/chq/pages/895.aspx?CategoryID=68&SubCategoryID=157

Maybe depends where OP is? I'm in Scotland so get free eye tests and prescriptions. Nothing to do with benefits or income.