help with dentist fees please? URGENT

homealone_2

i have been on sick leave for the last 5 years claiming DLA and IB. soon after developed really bad problems with teeth needing extractions, root canals and crowns plus the more basic fillings. somehow my medication has been affecting my teeth and i am there at least twice a month since, in the beginning my dentist asked me was i receiving benefits and i said yes but none that were on the exemption list. he said surely i was receiving something and i said yes and explained i was getting DLA and IB and he said not to worry they were included so along i have gone having done whatever was needed. well last week i received a letter saying my dentist had informed powers that be that i had an appointment with them on the 28 march and could i fill in the enclosed form. the form asked all sorts of questions including what i had done on the day, how much did it cost, had i paid or ticked one of the boxes, what band was my treatment in, did i have a receipt and on and on. i am now worried sick they are going to hit me with a huge bill for all dental work when it was not my fault. i filled in form truthfully obviously saying i had crown on that day and no i did not pay. how do i stand now certainly did not do anything wrong that i was aware of. will they just charge me for work done on that day or all work since 2003. i worried sick now what to do about appointment i have next week where another tooth has just coming away in chunks? do i cancel or go ahead as before? please advise am worried sick

jul22

homealone

I can't help with the dentist side of things and I hope that someone will be able to help you later.
Have you considered claiming Income Support if you are under 60, or Pension Credit if you are over 60? IS is means-tested (unlike IB and DLA). However, depending on what rate of DLA you receive you may be able to receive extra IS in the way of premiums. For example if you live alone and no one receives Carers Allowance for you, and you receive the Middle Rate Care Component for DLA, then you may be entitled to the Severe Disablement Premium. If you receive the High Rate Care component, you may be eligible to a further premium called the Enhanced Disablement premium (or words to that effect!). I must add, that your IB will be taken into account and whatever you receive will be deducted from what you may be eligible to receive for IS.
However if you do manage to qualify for IS, you should hopefully be eligible to have free prescriptions and dental treatment by a NHS Dentist.