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Stopped claiming Job seekers half way through dental treatment

Jennym91
Jennym91 Posts: 1 Newbie
edited 27 May 2017 at 2:01PM in Benefits & tax credits
Apologies if this is in the wrong section but this is the first time I have posted on a forum, sorry!

My partner and I were both claiming income based job seekers allowance, he made an appointment at our dentist because his tooth cracked in half, and after his first appointment they decided he needed a crown, he told them when he was asked to pay that we were on JSA and they said that was fine. he went back for another appontment to get measured for one and then another one to get a temporary one fitted while they waited for the proper one to be made (here's the confusing bit) after the temporary one was fitted, he started work about 3 days later (stopped claiming JSA on the 14th April) he then went for the proper crown to be fitted the next week on the 19th April and all was fine. Now he has just received a letter through the post saying he owes £250 plus £100 penalty to the NHS. He ticked the correct box when he had his first appointment (in receipt of income based job seekers). Are they right that he has to pay this? I just don't think it is fair that if you start working before your treatment has finished that you should have to pay for the whole lot.

Thanks in advance for any advice, i'm just so confused and stressed! :rotfl:

Comments

  • bspm
    bspm Posts: 541 Forumite
    Fifth Anniversary 500 Posts Name Dropper
    Jennym91 wrote: »
    Apologies if this is in the wrong section but this is the first time I have posted on a forum, sorry!

    My partner and I were both claiming income based job seekers allowance, he made an appointment at our dentist because his tooth cracked in half, and after his first appointment they decided he needed a crown, he told them when he was asked to pay that we were on JSA and they said that was fine. he went back for another appontment to get measured for one and then another one to get a temporary one fitted while they waited for the proper one to be made (here's the confusing bit) after the temporary one was fitted, he started work about 3 days later (stopped claiming JSA on the 14th April) he then went for the proper crown to be fitted the next week on the 19th April and all was fine. Now he has just received a letter through the post saying he owes £250 plus £100 penalty to the NHS. He ticked the correct box when he had his first appointment (in receipt of income based job seekers). Are they right that he has to pay this? I just don't think it is fair that if you start working before your treatment has finished that you should have to pay for the whole lot.

    Thanks in advance for any advice, i'm just so confused and stressed! :rotfl:

    Bit of a grey area but I think I would query it. Contact whoever sent you the fine, see below

    You can also get free NHS dental treatment if, when the treatment starts or when you’re asked to pay:
    you’re included in an award of Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance or Pension Credit guarantee credit or Universal credit (check entitlement after October 31 2015)
  • pmlindyloo
    pmlindyloo Posts: 13,071 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Jennym91 wrote: »
    Apologies if this is in the wrong section but this is the first time I have posted on a forum, sorry!

    My partner and I were both claiming income based job seekers allowance, he made an appointment at our dentist because his tooth cracked in half, and after his first appointment they decided he needed a crown, he told them when he was asked to pay that we were on JSA and they said that was fine. he went back for another appontment to get measured for one and then another one to get a temporary one fitted while they waited for the proper one to be made (here's the confusing bit) after the temporary one was fitted, he started work about 3 days later (stopped claiming JSA on the 14th April) he then went for the proper crown to be fitted the next week on the 19th April and all was fine. Now he has just received a letter through the post saying he owes £250 plus £100 penalty to the NHS. He ticked the correct box when he had his first appointment (in receipt of income based job seekers). Are they right that he has to pay this? I just don't think it is fair that if you start working before your treatment has finished that you should have to pay for the whole lot.

    Thanks in advance for any advice, i'm just so confused and stressed! :rotfl:

    So this is what I have found:

    https://www.gov.im/media/77427/dentalregulations2006.pdf

    scroll down to number 6 - Conditions for exemption under the Act.

    I read it to say that you are exempt from charges from the relevant date which is the initial date of the assessment as regarding treatment.

    If no one has any experience of this or can quote the relevant regulations or interpret the exemption in a different way then I would appeal the charges providing proof that your partner was on income based JSA on the relevant date - i.e the start of the assessment and decided treatment.

    It could be that the charges came about because the actual date when the charge was submitted for re inbursement from NHS by the dentist was received after your JSA ended.

    Hope that makes sense and someone corrects me if I have got it wrong.
  • adonis
    adonis Posts: 1,072 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    I had some treatment, a new crown and was about to start a well paid job,

    I was told it goes from the start of your treatment, so if you get a check up and show your entitlement to free treatment at the time and start a job paying a good wage the next day your treatment is all free.
  • clairec79
    clairec79 Posts: 2,512 Forumite
    Not an income based reason but I know after I had my youngest the dentist told me to make sure I made an appointment for a check up for just before his first birthday because if she discovered work that needed going it would be free, regardless of when she finished the work because it was identified and started when I qualified for free treatment
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