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Forum Home  →  Discussion  →  Other areas of social welfare law  →  Thread

prescription charges and UC

ClairemHodgson
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went to collect a scrip this morning and whilst waiting to hand it over/signing it (i get them free as over 60) i was reading the exemption bit.

says nothing about UC at all - only means tested benefits (IS, ESA, JSA)

do people on UC get free prescriptions?  are some people thinking they are having to pay when they don’t? or is my GP using an out of date form?

shawn mach
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From NHS Choices -

During the early stages of UC, all those who received it were automatically entitled to help with health costs, but now that numbers are increasing, revised arrangements have been put in place ...

Since November 1 2015, you are entitled to help with health costs if:

- you get Universal Credit and had no earnings or net earnings of £435 or less during the most recent assessment period
- you get Universal Credit which includes an element for a child and/or limited capability for work or limited capability for work related activity, and had no earnings or net earnings of £935 or less during the most recent assessment period

http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcosts/Pages/universal-credit.aspx

shawn mach
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ClairemHodgson
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cheers

i have no doubt, however, that people on UC are likely to read the form and think they’re going to have to pay….

Andrew Dutton
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from the NHS site:

‘Most forms will not yet have a box for Universal Credit. If this is the case, you should tick the box for income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance.

If you are unsure whether you are entitled to help with health costs, for example because you are waiting for your Universal Credit claim to be decided or to receive an award notice, you should pay the relevant charge and ask for a refund form at the same time. For prescription charges, you will not be able to get the refund form (FP57) at a later stage’

What could possibly go wrong????

Elliot Kent
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I asked for an FP57 once and the pharmacy worker looked at me blankly and asked me what that was.

shawn mach
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Andrew Dutton - 26 October 2016 10:45 AM

From the NHS site: ‘Most forms will not yet have a box for Universal Credit. If this is the case, you should tick the box for income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance.

Blimey ... not sure if this is still the current wording on the back of a prescription but don’t you have to sign a declaration that -

‘I declare that the information I have given on this form is correct and complete. I understand that if it is not appropriate action will may be taken. I confirm proper entitlement to exemption .... ‘

Surely ticking a box which says you’re getting JSA when you don’t get JSA is therefore a no no?

1964
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Exactly what I was thinking. You can just see it all going south can’t you?

Andrew Dutton
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How we laughed as they read me my rights at the Interview Under Caution…..

iut044
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This is still a problem ........................................

The prescription slips in Skelmersdale (which is in West Lancashire) do not have the Universal Credit option to tick.

ClairemHodgson
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iut044 - 04 April 2018 10:35 AM

This is still a problem ........................................

The prescription slips in Skelmersdale (which is in West Lancashire) do not have the Universal Credit option to tick.

well a scrip is the same wherever in the country you are….....it needs changing..

Welfare Rights Adviser
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not everywhere in the country - nothing to tick here and no charges

ClairemHodgson
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Welfare Rights Adviser - 04 April 2018 02:07 PM

not everywhere in the country - nothing to tick here and no charges

you’re in wales, LOL, different country…....