Bad teeth, no money. Can I get HC2 or HC3?

RobNNN

I need dental treatment but I am on a very low self-employed income. I am trying to avoid claiming a benefit but I do need help with dental costs. I don't know whether to claim before the new financial year or after as my income was a bit higher this year.

Does anyone know what the income thresholds are regarding HC2 and HC3 certificates? Obviously I'd prefer an HC2 but I might have to settle for an HC3.

Spoonie_Turtle

I've searched for this information on and off for the past few years and haven't been able to find it.  The closest I've found is a couple of comments on a Rightsnet thread saying the calculation is available in the CPAG handbook that year.  (Which is not publicly available so I can't say whether they publish the updated calculation annually.  Anyone here have access to the handbook to check?)

https://www.rightsnet.org.uk/forums/view/viewthread/19261/#90970

On the topic of self-employed earnings, the section 'Evidence to support your application' on this page might be helpful:  https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/nhs-low-income-scheme

sheramber

When calculating the amount of help you may receive under the Low Income Scheme a comparison is made between your weekly needs (which we call requirements) and your weekly income to determine how much, if anything you have to pay towards your health costs.

Weekly requirements are a personal allowance intended to reflect all your day to day living expenses, plus any housing costs you are personally liable to pay such as Council Tax, rent or mortgage. 

You get full help when your income is either:

• less than, or the same, as your living requirements
• more than your living requirements, up to half of the current cost of a prescription in England

As an example, your weekly income could be £105.87 and your requirements £106.65 per week. As your requirements are more than your income, you would be eligible for help.

From the link above

kabebz

@Spoonie_Turtle
There is a chapter on health benefits in Disability rights handbook which is the nearest thing to the CPAG handbook that claimants can purchase for £24 for latest 25/25 edition. 

My edition is 19/20 so probably outdated. 

From a quick scan of the chapter it looks like the income thresholds are like IS or HB ie 16k 

Income scheme for help with NHS charges, Low Income scheme travel costs and optical vouchers is operated by the NHS

Business Services Authority (NHSBSA). If your capital is €16,000 or less, you may be eligible for help. 

For the Low Income scheme, a comparison is made between your income and your requirements (see below).

If your income is less than or equal to your requirements (plus 50% of the current cost of an English prescription), you are entitled to full help with NHS charges, travel costs, vouchers towards the cost of glasses and free eye tests. The NHSBSA will send you an HC2 certificate.

NHS(TERC) Regs, reg 5(2)(e)&(f)

If your income is higher than your requirements by more than 50% of the prescription charge (the difference is called your 'excess income'), you cannot get help with the cost of NHS prescriptions but may get help with travel costs (see Chapter 55(2)) and other NHS charges. The NHSBSA will send you an HC3 certificate (partial help) to show how much you have to contribute towards the charges.

For sight tests, your maximum contribution is the excess income figure. For glasses or lenses, the maximum voucher value is reduced by twice your excess income. For dental charges, your maximum contribution is three times your excess income 

NHS (TERC) regs, reg 6

I can add more if needs be, please remember I’m using 19/20 edition 

Muttleythefrog

Does this help at all https://check-for-help-paying-nhs-costs.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/start

Go through that then it gives link to apply if desired but I think the calculations are complex... you can only but try... apply online.

Spoonie_Turtle

@kabebz thank you, I think that information is similar to what the NHSBSA website says.  What I think the OP is asking are what those income thresholds are, what's deemed necessary weekly income - although being analogous to HB and IS could be helpful as those rates are available on the gov.uk website, although the NHSLIS also takes into account some essential outgoings e.g. Council Tax that DWP benefits don't.

However the references to regulations is new to me, that could be helpful for further searching (although I'm not up to it right now).

RobNNN

Thanks, all.

sammyjammy

Do you have an NHS dentist?  If not then the point may well be moot.

Muttleythefrog

sammyjammy said:

Do you have an NHS dentist?  If not then the point may well be moot.

lol.. that's what I was thinking.... entitlement to help with NHS dental costs is irrelevant where I live... in 2.5 years living in Cornwall only 1 dentist has come up as offering adult NHS patient places and that was on the Isles of Scilly. I presume they have a dentist doing NHS work... if not then as you say they could be seeking support for something they can't get.