HEALTH HELP
All the benefits that give you access to free NHS prescriptions – and how to claim them
Find out if you could slash your medical expenses
THOUSANDS of benefit claimants are entitled to free NHS prescriptions that can slash their medical expenses.
In England prescriptions cost £9.90 per item, but some benefits give claimants access to free NHS prescriptions.
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The flat prescription fee is designed to make necessary medication affordable, but if you are taking several prescriptions costs can quickly add up.
So, if you're eligible, claiming your free prescriptions could make a big difference.
And in some cases the entitlement could also give you free access to over-the-counter remedies.
What benefits grant access to free prescriptions?
You will be entitled to free prescriptions if you or your partner receive:
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- Income support
- Income-based jobseeker's allowance
- Income-related employment and support allowance
- Pension Credit (guarantee element)
You will also be entitled to free prescriptions if you receive Universal Credit and and your earnings for the most recent assessment period were £435 or less, or £935 or less if your claim included an element for a child, or if you have 'limited capability for work'.
You could also be entitled to free NHS prescriptions if you receive tax credits and your annual family income is £15,276 or less. To claim you must be in receipt of:
- Child tax credit
- Working tax credit and child tax Ccedit paid together
- Working tax credit including a disability element
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If you're entitled to free NHS prescriptions your partner and any dependants under 20 will also be able to claim them.
How to save money when buying medicine
How to apply?
If you're automatically entitled you can use your award notice as proof.
When you receive your prescription there a boxes to tick identifying the benefit that grants your entitlement.
For example if you're claiming through Universal Credit you should tick box 'U'.
However the NHS has said that some prescriptions may not have a 'U' box, if this is the case select box 'k' for for income-based jobseeker’s allowance instead.
If you're entitled to free prescriptions you will also be entitled to free over-the-counter remedies at participating pharmacies, following a consultation with a pharmacist.
Is other help available?
If you're not automatically entitled to free NHS prescriptions, you may still be able to apply for help through the NHS Low Income Scheme.
If you're on a low income you can apply for the scheme, as long as your savings or investments don't exceed a certain value.
You cannot get help if you or your partner (or both) have more than:
- £16,000 in savings, investments or property (not including the place where you live)
- £23,250 in savings, investments or property if you live permanently in a care home (£24,000 if you live in Wales)
How much you will receive depends on your weekly income, outgoings as well as savings and investments.
If you are granted support, you may be able to apply for a refund for medical expenses already incurred.
Who else is entitled to free prescriptions
Other people entitled to free NHS prescriptions include:
- Those under 16 years old
- Those who are 16, 17, or 18 years old and in full-time education
- People who are 60 or older
- People with a valid medical exemption certificate (MedEx) for a specified medical condition, such as diabetes, epilepsy, or cancer
- Those with a valid maternity exemption certificate (MatEx)(issued as soon as your pregnancy is confirmed and valid until a year after birth)
- NHS inpatients
- People in receipt of a war pension exemption certificate and the prescription is for your disability
Other ways to save
Those ineligible for free prescriptions can still make savings by purchasing a Prescription Prepayment Certificate (PPC).
It's essentially a season ticket, which you pay for once and can use to cover any prescriptions you need for one year.
You can also get them to cover three months.
A one-year PPC costs £111.60, while a three-month PPC will set you back £31.25.
You can buy them on the NHS Business Services Authority's website or via a registered pharmacy.
The point at which you start saving money with the three-month PPC is after buying four or more prescriptions.
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With the one-year PPC, you start making savings after 12 or more purchases.
So, if you need a lot of prescriptions every year, a PPC can definitely be worth your time.
Are you missing out on benefits?
YOU can use a benefits calculator to help check that you are not missing out on money you are entitled to
Charity works out what you could get.
Entitledto's determines whether you qualify for various benefits, tax credit and Universal Credit.
MoneySavingExpert.com and charity StepChange both have benefits tools powered by Entitledto's data.
You can use to determine which benefits you could receive and how much cash you'll have left over each month after paying for housing costs.
Your exact entitlement will only be clear when you make a claim, but calculators can indicate what you might be eligible for.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected].
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