The help you’re entitled to depends on where you live and if you:

• get certain benefits
• are pregnant or recently had a baby
• are aged 60 and over
• are aged 19 and under
• get a War Pension
• have a certain medical condition

Check before you tick

If you’re unsure or waiting to find out if you’re eligible for help, pay your NHS charge. Checks are made on claims for free NHS prescriptions and free and reduced-cost dental treatment. If you claim incorrectly you could have to pay a penalty charge.

If you find out you’re eligible, you can apply for a refund. For refund details read the HC11 booklet (PDF: 272KB).

Apply for help to pay NHS costs

If you do not qualify for the help that you need, you can apply for help. You could be eligible depending on your household income and outgoings.

You’re entitled to free NHS prescriptions if you’re:

• Under 16
• Aged 16-18 and in full time education
• Aged 60 or over

If your date of birth is printed electronically on your prescription, you don’t need to provide proof of your age when claiming free prescriptions. If you’re 16, 17 or 18, you may need to show proof that you’re in full time education.

Income-based benefits

You are automatically entitled to free NHS prescriptions if you’re included in an award for:

• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance

If you’re getting one of these benefits, your partner and any dependent young people under 20 included in your award are also entitled to free NHS prescriptions.

Use your award notice as proof that you’re entitled.

You’re also entitled to:

free NHS dental treatmentfree NHS sight testsfree NHS wigs and fabric supportshelp with the cost of glasses or contact lensesrefunds of necessary travel costs to receive NHS treatment

Contribution-based benefits

If you’re receiving contribution-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance, you are not automatically entitled to free NHS prescriptions.

However, you could apply for help through the NHS Low Income Scheme.

Pension Credits

You’re entitled to free NHS prescriptions if you or your partner gets:

• Pension Credit Guarantee Credit or
• Pension Credit Guarantee Credit with Savings Credit.

You’re also entitled to:

free NHS dental treatmentfree NHS sight testsfree NHS wigs and fabric supportshelp with the cost of glasses or contact lensesrefunds of necessary travel costs to receive NHS treatment

If you get Pension Credit Savings Credit on its own, you are not automatically entitled to free NHS prescriptions. However, you could apply for help through the NHS Low Income Scheme.

Universal Credit

Not everyone getting Universal Credit is entitled to free NHS prescriptions.

Your entitlement depends on your take-home pay in the last assessment period.

View our Universal Credit page to check if you are entitled free NHS prescriptions.

If you’re entitled to free NHS prescriptions because you claim Universal Credit and your take home pay is under the limit, tick box ‘U’ on the prescription form.

Not all prescription forms have a tick box for Universal Credit. If that’s the case you should tick box ‘K’ for income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance instead.

You are entitled to free NHS prescriptions if your annual family income used to work out your tax credits is £15,276 or less and you receive either:

• Child Tax Credit
• Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit paid together
• Working Tax Credit including a disability element

If you meet these conditions, you will automatically receive an NHS tax credit exemption certificate.

NHS tax credit exemption certificates

If you are pregnant or have had a baby in the last 12 months, you are only entitled to free NHS prescriptions if you have a valid maternity exemption certificate. Show your certificate as proof that you’re entitled.

Maternity exemption certificates

You can only get free NHS prescriptions because of your medical condition if you have a valid medical exemption certificate. Show your certificate as proof that you’re entitled.

Medical exemption certificates

You can get free NHS prescriptions if you have a valid HC2 certificate. These certificates are issued to people who qualify for full help with health costs through the NHS Low Income Scheme.

HC2 certificates

HC3 certificates for limited help with health costs do not entitle you to free NHS prescriptions.

You can get free NHS prescriptions if you have a valid war pension exemption certificate and your prescription is for your accepted disability.

You’re also entitled to free NHS wigs and fabric supports if they relate to your accepted disability and you have a valid war pension exemption certificate.

You can claim money back for dental treatment, NHS travel costs, sight test, glasses or contact lenses if you receive War Pension Scheme or Armed Forces Compensation Scheme payments and the treatment is for your accepted disability. Write to:

The Treatment Group
Veterans UK
Norcross
Blackpool
FY5 3WP

Or phone: 0808 1914218