Universal credit / Free dental (Scotland) 23 December 2022 at 11:31AM edited 23 December 2022 at 11:33AM in Benefits & tax credits 14 replies 316 views

stevenbee

So I'm currently unemployed, reside in Scotland and on Universal Credit. I have a check up at the dentist scheduled (which does NHS patients) and just wondering how I go about doing it as someone on benefits, I've had a look to see if I need a certificate and I think I don't. Does anyone know the process? Do I need to tell the place beforehand I'm on universal credit and do I need to provide proof?

MovingForwards

Here you go:
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/scotland/health/help-with-health-costs/help-with-health-costs/

calcotti

MovingForwards said:

Here you go:
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/scotland/health/help-with-health-costs/help-with-health-costs/

Note in particular that on UC you only qualify for free dental treatment if your earnings are below the relevant threshold in your last UC assessment period prior to having treatment.

This can be confusing for those on UC and in work with variable earnings because they may qualify for free dental care some of the time but not all of the time.

It is your responsibility to correctly declare your entitlement and if you declare incorrectly in England you will be fined - I don’t know if Scotland is less punitive.

Spoonie_Turtle

I'm in England so the process could differ slightly but here I fill in a form which asks what benefit I'm receiving and my NI number.  I don't know if they do check it for every person, or if it's for occasional auditing purposes, or something else, but that's all that's needed as proof of exemption.  (It's the same as with prescriptions.)

stevenbee

MovingForwards said:

Here you go:
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/scotland/health/help-with-health-costs/help-with-health-costs/

Thanks for the link

stevenbee

Spoonie_Turtle said:

I'm in England so the process could differ slightly but here I fill in a form which asks what benefit I'm receiving and my NI number.  I don't know if they do check it for every person, or if it's for occasional auditing purposes, or something else, but that's all that's needed as proof of exemption.  (It's the same as with prescriptions.)

So you just go in for your appointment, then at the end, on the way out, when you're supposed to pay you just tell them you're on benefits and they give you the form?

Spoonie_Turtle

stevenbee said:

Spoonie_Turtle said:

I'm in England so the process could differ slightly but here I fill in a form which asks what benefit I'm receiving and my NI number.  I don't know if they do check it for every person, or if it's for occasional auditing purposes, or something else, but that's all that's needed as proof of exemption.  (It's the same as with prescriptions.)

So you just go in for your appointment, then at the end, on the way out, when you're supposed to pay you just tell them you're on benefits and they give you the form?

Sort of, but ours does it before the appointment.  They ask to check general details are up-to-date and correct (address etc.), and whether I pay or not.  Other dental practices may do it after the appointment I suppose.

poppy12345

Spoonie_Turtle said:

stevenbee said:

Spoonie_Turtle said:

I'm in England so the process could differ slightly but here I fill in a form which asks what benefit I'm receiving and my NI number.  I don't know if they do check it for every person, or if it's for occasional auditing purposes, or something else, but that's all that's needed as proof of exemption.  (It's the same as with prescriptions.)

So you just go in for your appointment, then at the end, on the way out, when you're supposed to pay you just tell them you're on benefits and they give you the form?

Sort of, but ours does it before the appointment.  They ask to check general details are up-to-date and correct (address etc.), and whether I pay or not.  Other dental practices may do it after the appointment I suppose.

Mine does it before the appointment too. Though they've never asked for proof of my benefits.

calcotti

poppy12345 said:... Though they've never asked for proof of my benefits. 

I don’t think any responsibility is imposed on dentists to check eligibility, it is the claimant’s responsibility with, in England at least, fines for those who get it wrong. The varying entitlement for those on UC with variable earnings I identified earlier is undoubtedly causes confusion and of course many claimants mix up contribution and income based ESA and claim free dental care incorrectly.

Torry_Quine

Remember the check up is free for everyone 

calcotti

Torry_Quine said:

Remember the check up is free for everyone 

I thought there was a charge in England - I don’t know about Scotland.

(Leaving aside finding a dentist that takes NHS patients which is a completely different matter.)