Health/Education Benefits Free School Meals

WHAT ARE HEALTH BENEFITS

Although most health treatment is free under the NHS for UK residents, some charges are levied on the public for NHS services and treatments. These include;

• Prescriptions;

• Sight tests;
• Glasses or Contact Lenses;
• Dental Treatment;
• Healthy start Food and Vitamins;
• Fares to Hospital;

Students who are under 19 and in full-time education receive free prescriptions, free sight tests, vouchers for glasses and contact lenses, free dental treatment and free wigs/fabric supports.

Other students generally qualify for free health care via two routes-by being in receipt of a qualifying benefit or on the grounds of low-income. The Healthy Start Food and Vitamin Scheme has specific conditions-(see later)

QUALIFYING BENEFITS

You are exempt from these charges if;-

-you or a member of your family are receiving income support, income based job seekers allowance, or the guarantee credit of pension credit or income based employment and support allowance.

OR

-you or your partner are receiving;

Child Tax Credit.

Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit.

Working Tax Credit including a disability or severe disability element -AND in all of the above cases;-

-your gross annual income as calculated by the Revenue for tax credit purposes at the time of your last tax credit award, does not exceed £15,276.

If you qualify on the grounds of receiving Income Support, J.S.A, E.S.A., or Tax Credits etc you should inform dental /optical staff or tick the box at the back of the prescription form.

If you qualify on the grounds of receiving Tax Credits the Revenue should inform the Prescription Pricing Authority of the Health Benefits Division which should then send you an exemption certificate which is normally valid until the end of the tax year.

When you become a student the Inland Revenue need to be notified of the change in circumstances to action the release of the exemption certificate, if you don't already have one or if you have previously been claiming on the grounds of receipt of means-tested benefits.    

REDUCED COST TREATMENT-THE LOW INCOME SCHEME

If   you do not qualify for free treatment, you may qualify for full help or reduced cost health-care treatment on the grounds of low income. To apply for remission of charges, you need to complete form HC1 (obtained from D.W.P. offices, post offices, and doctors surgeries/ health centres) and send it to the Health Benefits division of the Prescription Pricing Authority.

If your income is low enough to qualify for free services you will be sent a certificate HC2, and if you qualify for partial remission of charges you will be sent a certificate HC3.Certificates normally last for 6 months or 12 months if you are 60 or over or are disabled. Sometimes students are issued with a certificate until the end of the academic year .You should make a repeat claim on Form HC1 shortly before the expiry date. Changes in circumstances do not affect the validity of the certificate but if the change could result in increased help, you can re-apply for a fresh assessment before the certificate expires.

ACCESSING HEALTH BENEFITS-PROOF OF ENTITLEMENT    

You will normally be asked for proof that you are entitled to full and partial help with charges, but should not be denied the item or service if you are unable to provide the required evidence. If you have a HC2 or HC3 certificate this needs to be shown -in other cases you may need to show other evidence such as date of birth, student status, tax credit exemption certificate, benefit order book or benefit award letter.

OTHER WAYS OF ACCESSING FREE/REDUCED COST HEALTH BENEFITS

There are other ways of receiving free help with certain health benefits such as;-

• PRESCRIPTIONS
• DENTAL TREATMENT
• SIGHT TESTS AND GLASSES
• FARES TO HOSPITAL

Generally these are;-

• Aged 60 or over
• Under 16 or under 19 and in full-time education.
• Pregnant or have given birth in the last 12 months

Each health benefit has specific conditions of entitlement so it is worth checking to see if you qualify for help.

PRE-PAYMENT CERTIFICATES

If you need to purchase a lot of prescriptions but are not exempted by any other method you can buy a pre-payment certificate for a period of four months or a year. This works out cheaper than buying individual items if you need more than five prescriptions in four months or more than 14 items in a year. Claim a certificate on form FP95 available from chemists and most doctors' surgeries and relevant bodies. Applications can also be made by telephone using a credit or debit card on 0845 850 0030 or online at www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/1127.aspx. You can also pay in monthly instalments by direct debit.     

REFUNDS

If you are exempt from charges on the grounds of your age, receipt of a qualifying benefit, or because you are a full-time student under 19 you should complete the prescription form or the other appropriate form at your optician, dentist, or hospital.

You can claim a refund of charges for an item that you should have got free, or at a reduced cost if you claim within three months of paying the charge although the time limit can be extended if you can show that you have good cause for applying late-for example illness.

Refunds of prescription charges can be claimed on form FP 57 -for other items and services you should apply for a refund on form HC5. Forms are available from Jobcentre Plus Offices or N.H.S. hospitals or by telephoning 0845 8501166.Claims must be accompanied by receipts or other evidence to show you have paid the charge.

HEALTHY START FOOD AND VITAMINS

You qualify for Healthy Start Food Vouchers if

*you are 18 or over, more than ten weeks pregnant and you or a member of your family is entitled to Income Support, Income Based Job Seekers Allowance, Income Related Employment and Support Allowance or Child Tax Credit with a income not exceeding £16,190 and there is no entitlement to Working Tax Credit or

*under 18 whether or not you qualify for any benefits or tax credits or

*you are a mother with parental responsibility for a child under one or it is less than a year since expected date of birth-and you satisfy the benefit conditions listed above or

*for a child under 4 who is a member of your family as long as you satisfy the benefit conditions listed above.

This means you can get one voucher for each child aged between one and four, two vouchers for each child under one plus a further voucher if you are pregnant. Each voucher is worth £3.10

CLAIMS

 You must make an initial claim for Healthy Start Food vouchers in writing and must provide specified information and evidence-you should complete the form in the Healthy Start leaflet (HSO1),available at maternity clinics and some doctors surgeries or from 0845 607 6823.A claim form and further information is also available from http://www.healthystart.nhs.uk.you/ can start the claim online but the claim must be countersigned by a health professional such as a midwife doctor or health visitor.

If you have any problems claiming Healthy Start vouchers there is a helpline you can contact -0845-607-6823.  

FREE SCHOOL MEALS/CLOTHING GRANTS

Children are entitled to Free School Meals if their families receive

-Income Support, Income Based Job Seekers Allowance or Income Related Employment and Support Allowance.  

-Child Tax Credit whose annual income is lower than £15,860 (in England £16,190 or less)and are not getting Working Tax Credit unless this is during the four week run on.

Contact your Local Education Authority for details of how to apply.

Local Authorities can give grants for school uniforms and other school clothes Each Local Authority defines its own rules.

IF YOU WANT ANY FURTHER INFORMATION OR ADVICE on any aspect of Social Security Benefits whilst studying please contact Student Support and Wellbeing to make an appointment with the Student Welfare/Benefit Adviser(0151)-291-3813 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it