New glasses?

PKWYorks

I hope this is the right place to ask this but if not I'm sure someone will advise. I receive am currently receiving ESA and in a couple of months will switch to being a Pensioner & receiving the State Pension. I need to get my eyes tested and have a feeling I'll need new glasses. Is it better for me to get the new glasses whilst on ESA or will I get a better deal as a Pensioner? I know about the HC1 form, and think the Optician can complete that on my behalf should I need new glasses. I'm just not sure which is better, get now or wait till after I'm a Pensioner. Thank you.

Alice_Holt

Depends, is the ESA  income related, will you will be in receipt of Pension Credit post SPA?

https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/opticians/free-nhs-eye-tests-and-optical-vouchers/

p00hsticks

Is your ESA means tested or contributions based ?
Will you be entitled to Pension Credit ? 

State Pension is not means tested so you wouldn't automatically get any help towards buying glasses, unless you can find an optician that has made a commerical decision to give some sort of discount for State Pensioners - for example, Specsavers apparently give a 20% discount for over 60's
20% off glasses for over 60s | Specsavers UK  . 

PKWYorks

I will not know if I will get Pension Credit till one month before my pension is due to start! So that's tricky. I think the best thing is to go for it now. Thanks though. 

freesha

You still haven't told us which type of ESA you get.

poppy12345

PKWYorks said:

I will not know if I will get Pension Credit till one month before my pension is due to start! So that's tricky. I think the best thing is to go for it now. Thanks though. 

How much is your state pension? Are you living alone or with a partner? Do you claim either PIP daily living or DLA mid/high rate care?

Which ESA are you currently claiming? Only Income Related will entitle you to free eye tests.

luvchocolate

poppy12345 said:

PKWYorks said:

I will not know if I will get Pension Credit till one month before my pension is due to start! So that's tricky. I think the best thing is to go for it now. Thanks though. 

How much is your state pension? Are you living alone or with a partner? Do you claim either PIP daily living or DLA mid/high rate care?

Which ESA are you currently claiming? Only Income Related will entitle you to free eye tests.

I thought over 60s got free eye tests?

poppy12345

luvchocolate said:

poppy12345 said:

PKWYorks said:

I will not know if I will get Pension Credit till one month before my pension is due to start! So that's tricky. I think the best thing is to go for it now. Thanks though. 

How much is your state pension? Are you living alone or with a partner? Do you claim either PIP daily living or DLA mid/high rate care?

Which ESA are you currently claiming? Only Income Related will entitle you to free eye tests.

I thought over 60s got free eye tests?

Good point, which i had overlooked, thanks. Free eye tests but not optical vouchers. https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/opticians/free-nhs-eye-tests-and-optical-vouchers/

Charles_Foxtrot

Either way you can get an eye test for only £20 (at most) and a pair of glasses for £30 at the major optician chains.

Murphybear

Charles_Foxtrot said:

Either way you can get an eye test for only £20 (at most) and a pair of glasses for £30 at the major optician chains.

Not if you have varifocals, these can be quite expensive.  I applied to the DWP for help with glasses as I dont get PC.  I got £139 off the cost in an independent optician.