Exempt or not????

Pooky

Just wondered if any of you good people know the answer before I go on the trawl for info.....

A friend mentioned today that she has an exemption certificate for perscriptions etc that came with her tax credit entitlement.

Hold on a mo. I thought.....I've not got one of those.......am I entitled to one???

Her family income is about £5k a year less than ours buy she's receiving less tax credits than us (no idea why) and all her family members are on the exemption certificate thingy.....I've never had one so never thought to question it....her children are older than mine (slightly) and there's no disability or illness that she's claiming anything for.....I'm a little puzzled...anyone got any thoughts?

CIS

This page should answer any queries

http://www.ppa.org.uk/ppa/taxcredits_chart.htm

HGLTsuperstar

Exemption for prescriptions etc is via completion of a H1 certificaate, available from GP, chemist etc. If you're deemed eligible, you receive the H2 exemption form. Its assessed on your income etc, not disability, but have never heard of one being issued in any other way. Get the H1 form, send it off, and see if you're lucky

CIS

If you meet the tax credits eligibilty on the link I gave, Tax credits arrange automatically for an exemption to be sent out.

fatblokexl

current guidance on this is that if you have a yearly houshold income of £15k or less you can get the exemption certificate. (other criteria does apply to disabilities etc, but i cant remember them just now).
1 possible answer as to why someone may get this if their income is above this limit is, if an error was made on the claim which, even on a temporary basis, meant thier award was based on a lower income than this level, thier details may get passed to the Department of health and they get a exempt cert. we believe that once they get issued they are valid for a year, even if the details on the claim are then amended to show the correct dets.

it takes a bit of luck though as these details only get downloaded to the DoH once a month, and if error is left for to long it could cause an overpayment as well.

all helpline staff know the basic criteria and will have more detailed guidance accessable when you call to query it.

fairylights_2

We have one of these exemption certificate because we're that broke and it came automatically. We never applied for anything, it just arrived after our details for last year's tax credits were confirmed. Apparently the inland revenue informs the PPA of families who are entitled, so I'd figure if you've not had anything, it's not coming. sorry!

Pooky

Thanks for all the replies people.......no we're not eligable according to that flow chart but at least I know now!

Will tell my friend to contact them about her credits as I'm sure she should be getting more.

Thanks again

Suewre

Have they changed the figures recently? Last year our estimated joint income was £20,347 and we got a free prescription certificate. This year our estimated joint income is £16,034, and we haven't, and don't seem to be entitled to one.

CIS

The qualifying figures have probably gone up slightly if anything. Has anything on your award changed ?,a child not under 1 yr old now or less children on the award this year or someone not claiming the disability elements ?

Suewre

My son got and still gets DLA, so we get the disability element for a child. I have two children, one 13 (gets DLA) and one 10. My income for Tax Credits purpose is the Carers Allowance that I get, dh is self employed.

CIS

It appears to be correct that you havent got it this year, you rincomes too high. Sounds like you shouldn't actually have had it last year,a mistake on their part .

Did you at any point last year submit an icome that would have been below about £15000, if so they would have issued them then , and , AFAIIK its never requested back, its allowed to run until its expiry date.