Can I Get With Prescription Costs?

[Sofie]

I finish school June 22nd. If I get any prescriptions after that date and am not employed for whatever reason, can I get help with prescription costs?

[Man Of Kent]

DoH Website

http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Policyandguidance/Medicinespharmacyandindustry/Prescriptions/NHScosts/index.htm

TBH I'm fed up with looking at the most non-user friendly site that I have ever had the misfortune to have to use. I've linked to NHS Charges section, you can wade through the rest!

[Scary Monster]

You maybe eligible for help under form HC1 I think it is, which is the low income one.

Ask about it at a pharmacy, they often have them. You have to fill it in and send it off and then wait to be assessed. In the meantime you have to pay but you'll need to ask for a special receipt which you can then use to claim it back.

If you're not eligible and you get more than 5 prescription items in 4 months then you are best off buying a prepayment certificate. It's a bit like a season ticket.

Although tbh, most people stick with the in education thing until the end of the school year.

[Sofie]

My course woul've finished at the end of June so I have no reason to stay on.

Thanks.

[Whowhere]

I thought the most you paid for a prescription was about £6 anyway? I don't get one very often but i've never paid more than that.

[Sofie]

I read somewhere it was £6.85 or something like that.

Once or twice, I've only used a few of the tablets I've been prescribed. Can I get a refund if I don't use all of them?

[Scary Monster]

Nope. You're supposed to take 'em all!

[queenmab_roo]

Scary monster meant that until Aug/Sept most people still say that they are at school and therefore are still eligible.

[Kiezo]

Can I get a refund if I don't use all of them?

I dunno why but I found that really funny :/

Something which was a bit out of order, people who are on the dole get free (or at least discounted, I forget) prescriptions. However after me and my sis were born, my mum done the whole stay at home with no job and raise us thing. She had to pay for hers, yet she wouldn't if she was signed on. Logic?

[xsazx]

na you wont get a refund, the whole point in a course of antibiotics is even though you may feel better after taking a few you should continue the course till the end so the bacteria doesn't become resistant to the antibiotics as that's how super bugs come about. I would have thought you'd still qualify for student prices though because although you've left the school year doesn't finish till late July which is when you officially "leave" the school.

[Scary Monster]

Sorry saz, but it's really bugging me.

Antibiotics treat bacteria, they are naff all use against viruses. It's a key point that a lot of people don't understand or forget.

[Sofie]

Nope. You're supposed to take 'em all!

I couldn't because the silly doctor gave me something with lactose in (which I'm intolernt to) even though he knew I couldn't have it.

[Splodgey]

Get a thyroid condition - you get free prescriptions! :)

[Acrobat]

Get a thyroid condition - you get free prescriptions! :)

Yeah, but you also have a thyroid condition :p

[xsazx]

sorry I was talking to mum about viruses whilst typing and didnt realise I typed what I was saying not what I meant

[katralla]

if u haven't got a job after that time, sign on- that's what you're supposed to do. That way you can afford the basics like food heating and medicines until you have a job.

[katralla]

I dunno why but I found that really funny :/

Something which was a bit out of order, people who are on the dole get free (or at least discounted, I forget) prescriptions. However after me and my sis were born, my mum done the whole stay at home with no job and raise us thing. She had to pay for hers, yet she wouldn't if she was signed on. Logic?


What was she living on if she stayed at home to look after you?

[Randomgirl]

I finish school June 22nd. If I get any prescriptions after that date and am not employed for whatever reason, can I get help with prescription costs?

If you are going to university next year then you can get free prescriptions whilst you are in full-time education and 18 so you can keep claiming until your 19th birthday.

If you are going to be looking for a job you could sign on whilst you are looking as if you get income-based jobseekers allowance you automatically get free prescriptions.

[Splodgey]

Yeah, but you also have a thyroid condition :p

True... but at least it saves me some money :)

[Randomgirl]

I dunno why but I found that really funny :/

Something which was a bit out of order, people who are on the dole get free (or at least discounted, I forget) prescriptions. However after me and my sis were born, my mum done the whole stay at home with no job and raise us thing. She had to pay for hers, yet she wouldn't if she was signed on. Logic?

You do automatically get free prescriptions whilst pregnant and for the first year after giving birth.

People on income-based Job seekers allowance or Income Support get free prescriptions. People on contribution based JSA or Incapicity benefit don't automatically get free prescriptions but may be able to get free prescriptions with an exemption certificate due to low income. Some stay at home mothers would qualify for one of these too (but not if you have more than £8,000 of savings) but they might not have been invented when your mother was at home as I think they are quite a recent thing.

[katralla]

^^ah right, well I'd say things have changed for the better, even if it shows how those in the past have missed out.

[Sofie]

Get a thyroid condition - you get free prescriptions! :)

That won't help and I doubt that's the cause of my current mystery illness.

If you are going to university next year then you can get free prescriptions whilst you are in full-time education and 18 so you can keep claiming until your 19th birthday.

I won't be going to uni next year. I've decided that I really need to take a break in September as this last year has been too stressful for me.

[katralla]

Are you still considered a student until the 1st of september though? worth checking...

[Sofie]

I will check that. I assumed that I was only a student up until my last day at school. (which is June 22nd)

[Ilora-Danon]

I'll be 21 next week, but I'll be a student for the next 3 years. Would I get anything if I filled in the HC1 form? I'm a freelance makeup artist, which is part time (10 hours or so a month) so I'm on an extremely low income too... Does that count??

[Sofie]

Ilora - have you had alook at MoK's link that he posted earlier in the thread?

[Ilora-Danon]

Yeah, but as soon as I saw it, I x-ed out lol. I can't cope with the DoH websites, they're too confusing.

[Sofie]

Surely if your couse is ten hours per month, surely you've got plently of time to work? Whereas my course is about 25 hours per week.

[Ilora-Danon]

No... my job is 10 hours a month. My college course is 27 hrs a week full time... and will be more when I go to uni in Sept.. thus being a part time makeup artist. (And, getting work isn't easy where I live anyway, not much call for makeup artists here yet)

[Sofie]

Right, I get it now.

[Randomgirl]

I'll be 21 next week, but I'll be a student for the next 3 years. Would I get anything if I filled in the HC1 form? I'm a freelance makeup artist, which is part time (10 hours or so a month) so I'm on an extremely low income too... Does that count??

You can fill out a form to see if you qualify. I did this form whilst I was at university but found that I was only entitled to free wigs or something like that. (I have no need for a wig incase anyone wondered). But it depends on your income, your loan entitlement and savings (if you've got more than £8000 in savings you don't get it). You might get it.

[rachie004]

True... but at least it saves me some money :)

:yes:

I save a fortune with it :D

Quite lucky I developed coeliacs after my thyroid condition; food staples for the month (i.e. pasta and bread) = free :D

[Sofie]

You can fill out a form to see if you qualify. I did this form whilst I was at university but found that I was only entitled to free wigs or something like that. (I have no need for a wig incase anyone wondered). But it depends on your income, your loan entitlement and savings (if you've got more than £8000 in savings you don't get it). You might get it.

Can't remember where I read it, but I'm sure I read somewhere it was 16k and not 8k?:confused:

If you are going to be looking for a job you could sign on whilst you are looking as if you get income-based jobseekers allowance you automatically get free prescriptions.

I won't be looking for a job - at least not straight away and not until my health has improved.

[Randomgirl]

Can't remember where I read it, but I'm sure I read somewhere it was 16k and not 8k?:confused:



I won't be looking for a job - at least not straight away and not until my health has improved.

The limit might have changed since I applied for it as it was a few years ago, so if you read that somewhere you are probably right ;)

If you are in ill health and this is what's stopping you entering employment you could ask your GP (or specialist if you have one) to sign you off as then you could claim benefits and get free prescriptions (assuming you'd be on income support).

[Lu_C]

You might be able to find out if you're eligible for any benefits here (http://www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/JCP/Customers/WorkingAgeBenefits/index.html)

Just warning you now... It's really hard to get Incapacity or Income support. Are you well enough to go to school at the moment? Because if so, then you're unlikely to be considered unwell enough to not look for a job. It might just be simplest to go on Jobseekers.
If you are unwell enough for school and whatnot, then income support would be your best route.

(Oh, and when I was applying for benefits last year I'm pretty sure it was £8000 or more.)

[RubberSkin]

It's £16,000

[Sofie]

You might be able to find out if you're eligible for any benefits here (http://www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/JCP/Customers/WorkingAgeBenefits/index.html)

Just warning you now... It's really hard to get Incapacity or Income support. Are you well enough to go to school at the moment? Because if so, then you're unlikely to be considered unwell enough to not look for a job. It might just be simplest to go on Jobseekers.
If you are unwell enough for school and whatnot, then income support would be your best route.

(Oh, and when I was applying for benefits last year I'm pretty sure it was £8000 or more.)

Thanks. I am able to go to school, but do find the workload very stressful (even though it is only 2 and a half days a week) and same with my work placement. (which is 2 days a week)

[Kiezo]

What was she living on if she stayed at home to look after you?

My dad had/has a job...

You do automatically get free prescriptions whilst pregnant and for the first year after giving birth.

Maybe now, I was born in 1985. Anyway, what you said is all well and good if you only don't work for a year. What after that? Kids can magically look after themselves at age 1?

[Sofie]

It's probably assumed after the first year, most women would go back to work.

[Kiezo]

It's probably assumed after the first year, most women would go back to work.

So the NHS make their policies based on assumptions?

Not to sound uh, stuck up, but in the area I live, most mums do what mine did with their kids. None were too fond of kids being raised in day care while they were out working for some extra cash.

[Scary Monster]

Sure it was £8k in savings when I got the form at uni last year, if they've doubled it then I'll have to have another shot!

Ask at local pharmacies, health centres, dentists, opticians etc, they often have the massive form you have to fill in to get assessed for help with prescription costs if you are low income. I think its called HC1 but I could be wrong. If the don't have it you can ring up and ask for one.

In the meantime you will have to pay, although if you ask for the special receipts and it turns out that you are eligible for help then you can claim a refund, but only if you get the special receipts (you have to ask for them, and they are A4).

[RubberSkin]

Sure it was £8k in savings when I got the form at uni last year, if they've doubled it then I'll have to have another shot!


Capital limits

No help is available if a person has capital/savings of more than:

£21,000 if a person lives permanently in a care home, £16,000 in any other case.

From here (http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Policyandguidance/Medicinespharmacyandindustry/Prescriptions/NHScosts/DH_4049391)

[rachie004]

I find work makes me tired and stressed, do I get incapacity benefit too?

[RubberSkin]

No, you get a slap of the head purser and a hot, steaming bowl of cream of fuck all :D

[Man Of Kent]

It's probably assumed after the first year, most women would go back to work.


Or that exclusions due to other benefits would kick in then instead. The exclusion for pregnancy is based on clinical need, rather than social...

[Sofie]

No, you get a slap of the head purser and a hot, steaming bowl of cream of fuck all :D

:lol:

Apparantely, I'm not entitled to incapacity benefit as it's a contribution based thing.

Rahcie - I guess it does depend on what you mean by 'my work makes me stressed'.

[rachie004]

Head purser? That'll be me then! I'd rather have the captain spank me though ;) :o

I mean my work makes me stressed in a boo hoo poor me way and need to get over it/myself like most people :p

[Randomgirl]

:lol:

Apparantely, I'm not entitled to incapacity benefit as it's a contribution based thing.

If you would qualify for incapacity benefit due to health reasons but don't as you haven't contributed enough then you can get Income Support due to incapacity. I had to get signed off due to ill health as soon as I left university and hadn't paid enough national insurance contributions so that's how I know :)

[Sofie]

Cheers. I spoke to my tutor today who said that I'm registered at school until September.