Dentist fees & Universal Credit

WinMeSomeStuff

Hi all.

Just seeing if anyone is in a similar position to make sure we are doing everything right. Apologies if the info here is not relevant, I just don't know what is and isn't.

Me and my partner claim UC. I work and take home pay for me is usually around £1980 each month.

My partner receives PIP and contribution based esa which gets deducted from the UC. She also has medical excemption certificate for doctors since she has a lifelong bone condition, a form of ricketts which has over the years also effected be teeth.

We have our 2 dependent children on our UC too. We also have the disabled child element and carer element. 

Our question is, since I now work earning that amount. With us being on a joint claim, does that mean she will need to pay for her dental treatments? She is currently registered at an NHS dentist.

She doesn't need to go right now. It was only due to me going recently and knowing I had to pay for myself made me think about her situation. I want to make sure if she did need go she's knows if she needs to pay or not. We don't want any NHS fines coming unexpected!

HillStreetBlues

The MEC is only for free NHS prescriptions, so it would be based on your UC, as it's a joint claim if one has to pay so would the other one.

WinMeSomeStuff

HillStreetBlues said:

The MEC is only for free NHS prescriptions, so it would be based on your UC, as it's a joint claim if one has to pay so would the other one.

Thank your for your help

sheramber

Have you considered the low income scheme ?

https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/help-with-health-costs/nhs-low-income-scheme-lis/

WinMeSomeStuff

sheramber said:

Have you considered the low income scheme ?

https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/help-with-health-costs/nhs-low-income-scheme-lis/

Thanks for the link. It mentions 

"Universal Credit - if your earnings during your last complete assessment period were £435 or less, or £935 or less if you had a child element or had limited capability for work"

If she is the one applying she does not have earnings. Does it mean joint earnings to include me? If so I don't think we as a couple  we would be eligible for that since my take home pay for an assessment period is over £935, even though her earnings are 0.

HillStreetBlues

WinMeSomeStuff said:

sheramber said:

Have you considered the low income scheme ?

https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/help-with-health-costs/nhs-low-income-scheme-lis/

Thanks for the link. It mentions 

"Universal Credit - if your earnings during your last complete assessment period were £435 or less, or £935 or less if you had a child element or had limited capability for work"

If she is the one applying she does not have earnings. Does it mean joint earnings to include me? If so I don't think we as a couple  we would be eligible for that since my take home pay for an assessment period is over £935, even though her earnings are 0.

Yes, it's combined earnings. so that would be £1980.

poppy12345

WinMeSomeStuff said:

sheramber said:

Have you considered the low income scheme ?

https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/help-with-health-costs/nhs-low-income-scheme-lis/

Thanks for the link. It mentions 

"Universal Credit - if your earnings during your last complete assessment period were £435 or less, or £935 or less if you had a child element or had limited capability for work"

If she is the one applying she does not have earnings. Does it mean joint earnings to include me? If so I don't think we as a couple  we would be eligible for that since my take home pay for an assessment period is over £935, even though her earnings are 0.

To be clear, due to your earnings neither of you will qualify for free dental. 

WinMeSomeStuff

HillStreetBlues said:

WinMeSomeStuff said:

sheramber said:

Have you considered the low income scheme ?

https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/help-with-health-costs/nhs-low-income-scheme-lis/

Thanks for the link. It mentions 

"Universal Credit - if your earnings during your last complete assessment period were £435 or less, or £935 or less if you had a child element or had limited capability for work"

If she is the one applying she does not have earnings. Does it mean joint earnings to include me? If so I don't think we as a couple  we would be eligible for that since my take home pay for an assessment period is over £935, even though her earnings are 0.

Yes, it's combined earnings. so that would be £1980.

Thanks for confirming 👍 

WinMeSomeStuff

poppy12345 said:

WinMeSomeStuff said:

sheramber said:

Have you considered the low income scheme ?

https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/help-with-health-costs/nhs-low-income-scheme-lis/

Thanks for the link. It mentions 

"Universal Credit - if your earnings during your last complete assessment period were £435 or less, or £935 or less if you had a child element or had limited capability for work"

If she is the one applying she does not have earnings. Does it mean joint earnings to include me? If so I don't think we as a couple  we would be eligible for that since my take home pay for an assessment period is over £935, even though her earnings are 0.

To be clear, due to your earnings neither of you will qualify for free dental. 

Thanks for the info.

TimeLord1

Does your wife's payment have any Disability Income Guarantee paid? 

poppy12345

TimeLord1 said:

Does your wife's payment have any Disability Income Guarantee paid? 

The Disability Income Guarantee is otherwise known as Enhanced Disability Premium. Their ESA would not include this because it's New style ESA, which is a contributions based only benefit. Their UC will be topping up their income.