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prescriptions

12 years ago•16 Replies

Can anyone help me with this question... i get ESA and have been put in the Support Group, does this exempt me from presciption charges ? many thanks

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Kazza01

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16 Replies

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12 years ago

no but your may be able to get a prepayment certificate apply on formFP95 available from your pharmacists

tyran5712 years ago

hi, yes you can get free prescriptions i am on ESA and in the support group and my prescriptions are free. You tick box `H` on the back it says income support, ESA and job seekers. I dont know where rayfindlow got their information from but they are wrong. If you are still unsure phone a chemist and ask and they will tell you sandra

JabbatheHut in reply to tyran5712 years ago

you are both wrong ESA is contribution and means tested only means tested get free prescriptions you must read when ticking the box what it said

12 years ago

this page might help you decide Kaz

boots.com/en/Prescription-C...

or you could check with your benefit adviser too

katieoxo6012 years ago

Hi Kazza01,

There is no simple answer to your question as free prescription rights are very complicated and some people who work get them on low income grounds by filling in an HC1, general advice is to ask the benefits advice centre nearest to you. If you are not entitled a prepayment certificate is the next best option if you take a lot of drugs, so rayfindlows advice is not totally wrong

tyran5712 years ago

ive just looked this up if you get income related ESA you get free prescriptions !! If you get contibution related ESA you dont !!

JabbatheHut in reply to tyran5712 years ago

that is what i tried to say but had it not very clear better that we all help get the right information for the ones asking the questions about what happens by learning from each other.

valm12 years ago

I have a yearly pre payment cert saves you a fortune Val

valm12 years ago

EXcuse ME ! But I was just pointing out if she does not get free prescriptions with the ESA it is cheaper getting a pre paid cert. Get off your high horse!!!!

tanyamarie12 years ago

If you are fortunate enough to live in Wales, all prescriptions are free!!!!!!

luckyheather in reply to tanyamarie12 years ago

I have seen Gavin and Stacey would pay for the prescriptions lol

Gordon5712 years ago

As noted already, the income related ESA gets free prescriptions. Always worth reading the back, or the link given.

If anyone is on a low income and does not qualify for prescriptions via an exclusion such as a benefit, you can apply for help with health costs via the NHS Low Income Scheme. More info on that at direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAn...

Further explanation on qualifying at nhsbsa.nhs.uk/HealthCosts/1...

The information leaflet (42 pages) can be read at nhsbsa.nhs.uk/HealthCosts/D...

...or call the NHS customer contact team on 0845 850 1166 - unless you're like me, and have to pay over the odds for 0845, in which case it is 0191 203 5555

in reply to Gordon5712 years ago

Well done Gordon

Gordon57 in reply to Gordon5712 years ago

Nearly forgot to mention - you can get the HC1 application form at any JobCentrePlus, NHS Hospital and many Doctors, Dentists or Opticians. You can have one posted out by calling the helpline numbers above, or 0131 275 6386 in Scotland. If you qualify then it's not only free prescriptions but also dental care and a free eye test and glasses (within limits). You can also reclaim any travel costs when travelling for NHS treatment.

Some people may qualify for exemption through getting certain tax credits, if that's the case then a certificate should be sent automatically, otherwise you have to claim. We get Working Tax Credits because only the wife is working and she does not get a lot. But, that's not automatic, we had to claim via the HC1 form to get a HC2 certificate.

If you do not qualify under the low income scheme then there are always the pre-pay cards, which saved me a fortune when I had those. £29.10 for 3 months or £104.00 for a year, you can even pay that in 10 instalments. If you have more than 3 items in 3 months then a pre-pay certificate is worth getting.

Kazza0112 years ago

Thanks guys for all your answers however i may just double check following Gordons links ( thanks Gordon)

valm12 years ago

Val

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