Help with NHS Costs

Someone you care for may be entitled to help with NHS costs, help their pension go further by checking to see if they are.

Someone you care for is entitled to free sight tests if they

are aged 65 or over
Have been diagnosed as diabetic
Are registered as severely sight impaired , blind, sight impaired, or partially sighted.
Are in receipt of Pension Credit Guarantee credit.

A sight test can also be provided at home for anyone housebound.

There is financial help in the form of NHS optical vouchers towards the cost of glasses. These are available to someone;

If the cost of the glasses or contact lenses is greater than the voucher value they will have to pay the difference.

Someone is entitled to help with necessary travel costs in order to receive NHS treatment if they are referrred by their doctor or dentist.

In order to qualify for this the person needs to be

Entitled to Pension Credit Guarantee Credit
Named on an HC2 certificate ( This is provided to people with savings and investments of less than £16,000 in England.)Anyone can apply.
If they are a war veteran and the treatment ifs for a disability that the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency accepts for treatment.

Those entitled to financial help for wigs and fabric supports are those;

In receipt of a valid war pension exemption certificate and the item is for an accepted disablement.
In receipt of Pension Credit Guarantee Credit or
Entitled to a HC2 certificate.

The elderly are not entitled to free dental treatment unless they are

They are not be exempt from paying for NHS dental treatment because they receive one of the benefits below when paid on their own:

However will be entitled to free treatment if

If they are entitled to, or named on, a valid NHS tax credit exemption certificate.
If they are a war pensioner – if treatment is connected with the pensionable disability.
If they are named on an HC2 (or HC3) certificate because of low income
Receive Pension Credit Guarantee Credit.