Universal credit and dental treatment

Jayjay12

I went to the dentist for a check up in November and required a few treatment sessions. However, I worked in a temporary job in December and worked over the earnings threshold for the latest complete assessment period. I only worked for that month and I am now back to unemployed. I need to go back to the dentist next week for a final session where my new assessment period will have started a few days before.

Will the treatment cost me? Do they calculate the assessment period from when I went for a check-up or after the last treatment session? Back in November I had no job and it is only my recent period that I went over the threshold. So, I am quite confused as to whether I will need to pay or not.

Spoonie_Turtle

Jayjay12 wrote: »

I went to the dentist for a check up in November and required a few treatment sessions. However, I worked in a temporary job in December and worked over the earnings threshold for the latest complete assessment period. I only worked for that month and I am now back to unemployed. I need to go back to the dentist next week for a final session where my new assessment period will have started a few days before.

Will the treatment cost me? Do they calculate the assessment period from when I went for a check-up or after the last treatment session? Back in November I had no job and it is only my recent period that I went over the threshold. So, I am quite confused as to whether I will need to pay or not.

https://contactcentreservices.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/selfnhsukokb/AskUs_ECS/en-gb/9397/dental-exemption-checking-benefit-exemptions/30985/am-i-entitled-to-free-nhs-dental-treatment-if-i-am-in-receipt-of-universal-credit

Says it's based on your list complete assessment period, but then a bit at the end sound less definitive:

You cannot claim free NHS dental treatment if you do not meet the qualifying criteria, regardless of whether you expect to meet this criteria at the end of your current assessment period. You should pay and then claim a refund if you meet the qualifying criteria once your current assessment period has finished.

Generate speaking:
https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/help-with-health-costs/help-with-health-costs-for-people-getting-universal-credit/

Here it says:

You need to have met the eligibility criteria either in the Universal Credit period before you paid, or in the same assessment period in which you paid, to qualify for a refund.

So it sounds like you should pay, then at the end of your current AP apply for a refund. If nothing else, you should probably be able to get help on the low income scheme because you only worked for a month.

HOWEVER the parts I've bolded in your original post, I don't know. If you ask over on the Health and Beauty board there are a couple of dentists over there who know how the billing system works and should be able to help you work it out.

I guess the other thing is to phone up and ask your dental practice specifically, though they may have to work it out and get back to you.

It's an interesting one, please let us know how it turns out!

Spoonie_Turtle

Further to my post above (I'm curious so kept looking!) this is what the NHS BSA Knowledge Base had to say:

Remissions

You will not have to pay for NHS dental treatment if at the time the CoT started or when the charge is made and you;

get, or are included in an award of someone getting, Income Support

get, or are included in an award of someone getting, Pension Credit Guarantee Credit

get, or are included in an award of someone getting, Income Based Jobseekers Allowance

get, or are included in an award of someone getting, Income Related Employment and Support Allowance

get, or are included in an award of someone getting, Universal Credit (in certain circumstances only)

are named on or entitled to an NHS Tax Credit Exemption certificate

are named on an HC2 certificate

are named on an HC3 certificate (Partial Remission)

https://contactcentreservices.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/selfnhsukokb/AskUs_Dental/en-gb/9753/exemption-and-remissions/41820/what-entitles-someone-to-free-nhs-dental-treatment

... which seems to cover you as you qualified when it started. I would double check with your dental practice just to be sure, but it does also say that the initial examination is the start of the course of treatment here: https://contactcentreservices.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/selfnhsukokb/AskUs_Dental/en-gb/9724/performer-queries-contract-queries/41660/what-should-a-course-of-nhs-dental-treatment-consist-of

kimplus8

if in doubt, pay and apply for the refund. If you tick the exemption box and they decided it is wrong they charge you for the treatment plus a £100 fine.

Jayjay12

Thank you, I have posted on the health and beauty forum. Yeah, I found the information online quite confusing and contradictory at times. I would call up and speak to the dentist but they’re usually too busy to answer and the receptionists are clueless about these matters, so I don’t want to be given the wrong information either.