Not sure if this comes in the remit of this group, but don't know where else
to post.

For the past three years, I have applied for, and been granted, an exemption
certificate entitling me to free prescrisptions, glasses, and dental
treatment etc.

I re-applied as usual, but was shocked to find I have only been given an HC3
Which gives limited help towards glasses teeth, but no prescription
charges. I was told I do not qualifyon low income grounds. Obviously I am
going to query/appeal the decision, but I am in a panic right now.

My circumstances have not changed since I first claimed. I have a local govt
pension, which increases in line with inflation, IB, long-term (contribution
based) which also increases with inflation, and DLA (discounted afaik) plus
some HB/CTB. My rent, (housing association), and all other bills have
increased accordingly. I am at a loss to know why they should suddenly
decide I am no longer entitled to full help with health costs.

None of my illnesses are inthe exempt category, but I need six items of
medicine at a time on a regular basis, apart from ad hoc items such as
antibiotics, and I simply cannot afford them.

I can find no information on what the income limits are, or how they are
worked out. Perhaps my income this year works out a few pence more than
allowed, I have no means of knowing. I just assumed that as I qualified
previously I would do so again.

Can anyone help please.

Jennie

The orijinal wrote:
> Not sure if this comes in the remit of this group, but don't know where else
> to post.
> 
> For the past three years, I have applied for, and been granted, an exemption
> certificate entitling me to free prescrisptions, glasses, and dental
> treatment etc.
> 
> I re-applied as usual, but was shocked to find I have only been given an HC3
> Which gives limited help towards glasses teeth, but no prescription
> charges. I was told I do not qualifyon low income grounds. Obviously I am
> going to query/appeal the decision, but I am in a panic right now.
> 
> My circumstances have not changed since I first claimed. I have a local govt
> pension, which increases in line with inflation, IB, long-term (contribution
> based) which also increases with inflation, and DLA (discounted afaik) plus
> some HB/CTB. My rent, (housing association), and all other bills have
> increased accordingly. I am at a loss to know why they should suddenly
> decide I am no longer entitled to full help with health costs.
> 
> None of my illnesses are inthe exempt category, but I need six items of
> medicine at a time on a regular basis, apart from ad hoc items such as
> antibiotics, and I simply cannot afford them.
> 
> I can find no information on what the income limits are, or how they are
> worked out. Perhaps my income this year works out a few pence more than
> allowed, I have no means of knowing. I just assumed that as I qualified
> previously I would do so again.
> 
> Can anyone help please.
> 
> Jennie
> 
> 

DLA is discounted (as is HB / CTB) but IB has tended to rise a bit more 
than the needs allowances upon which the exemptions for prescriptions 
etc are based. You should be able to ask them how they worked out their 
figures, I would do that but I don't know if there is any right for a 
formal appeal.

-- 
Robbie

On 23 Jun, 02:54, "The orijinal"  wrote:
> Not sure if this comes in the remit of this group, but don't know where else
> to post.
>
> For the past three years, I have applied for, and been granted, an exemption
> certificate entitling me to free prescrisptions, glasses, and dental
> treatment etc.
>
> I re-applied as usual, but was shocked to find I have only been given an HC3
> Which gives limited help towards glasses teeth, but no prescription
> charges. I was told I do not qualifyon low income grounds. Obviously I am
> going to query/appeal the decision, but I am in a panic right now.
>
> My circumstances have not changed since I first claimed. I have a local govt
> pension, which increases in line with inflation, IB, long-term (contribution
> based) which also increases with inflation, and DLA (discounted afaik) plus
> some HB/CTB. My rent, (housing association), and all other bills have
> increased accordingly. I am at a loss to know why they should suddenly
> decide I am no longer entitled to full help with health costs.
>
> None of my illnesses are inthe exempt category, but I need six items of
> medicine at a time on a regular basis, apart from ad hoc items such as
> antibiotics, and I simply cannot afford them.
>
> I can find no information on what the income limits are, or how they are
> worked out. Perhaps my income this year works out a few pence more than
> allowed, I have no means of knowing. I just assumed that as I qualified
> previously I would do so again.
>
> Can anyone help please.
>
> Jennie

One of my friends had his doctor write a letter pointing out the need
for prescriptions (he has 67% burns).
He ended up getting free prescriptions. Despite income.

The only other alternitive is a pre-paid prescription, used to buy
them quarterly but for anything over 4 items a month its big savings.

Martin  <><

The orijinal wrote:
> Not sure if this comes in the remit of this group, but don't know
> where else to post.
> 
> For the past three years, I have applied for, and been granted, an
> exemption certificate entitling me to free prescrisptions, glasses,
> and dental treatment etc.
> 
> I re-applied as usual, but was shocked to find I have only been given
> an HC3 Which gives limited help towards glasses teeth, but no
> prescription charges. I was told I do not qualifyon low income
> grounds. Obviously I am going to query/appeal the decision, but I am
> in a panic right now.
> 
> My circumstances have not changed since I first claimed. I have a
> local govt pension, which increases in line with inflation, IB,
> long-term (contribution based) which also increases with inflation,
> and DLA (discounted afaik) plus some HB/CTB. My rent, (housing
> association), and all other bills have increased accordingly. I am at
> a loss to know why they should suddenly decide I am no longer
> entitled to full help with health costs.
> 
> None of my illnesses are inthe exempt category, but I need six items
> of medicine at a time on a regular basis, apart from ad hoc items
> such as antibiotics, and I simply cannot afford them.
> 
> I can find no information on what the income limits are, or how they
> are worked out. Perhaps my income this year works out a few pence
> more than allowed, I have no means of knowing. I just assumed that as
> I qualified previously I would do so again.
> 
> Can anyone help please.
> 
As Robbie suggests, it could be that your IB increased to the long-term
rate, and this could have stopped you getting IS, though you will not
have noticed a drop in benefits (except perhaps HB/CTB) you would no
longer qualify for free prescriptions.

Some info from here:
http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/articles/article.aspx?articleId=908

> You are entitled to help with paying for healthcare costs if you:
> 
>* are aged 16 or under, 
 >
>* are aged 16, 17, or 18, and in full-time
> education, 
 >
>* are aged 60 or over, 
 >
>* are pregnant, or have had a baby
> in the last 12 months, or 
 >
>* are receiving Income Support,
> Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, or Pension Credit Guarantee
> Credit, 
 >
>* have an NHS Tax Credit Exemption Certificate, or 
 >
>* have a certain specified medical conditions, such as epilepsy and have a
> valid NHS Medical Exemption Certificate.
> 
> You may also be entitled to help if you have a physical disability
> which means that you are unable to leave your home without the help
> of another person.
> 
> To apply for an NHS Medical Exemption Certificate, ask at reception
> at your local GP surgery.
> 
> If you are on a low income and are having difficulties paying NHS
> charges, you may be able to qualify for additional help through the
> NHS Low Income Scheme. Ask for a HC1 form from your GP surgery,
> dentist or opticians. Alternatively, you can call their helpline on
> 0845 850 1166. Calls are charged at the local rate.
> 
> If you pay for your prescriptions, and are likely to need several
> prescriptions throughout the year, you can save money by buying a
> Prescription Prepayment Certificate (PPC). You may find it cheaper to
> buy a PPC if you need to pay for more than:
> 
> * four prescription items in three months, or * 14 prescription items
> in 12 months.
> 
> You can only buy a PPC for your own prescriptions, and not on behalf
> of someone else. Your GP or pharmacist will be able to give you an
> application form for a PPC.

More detailed info here (pdf):
http://shorl.com/nigroprelakopre


The Current charges for a PPC are:
> # £27.85 for a 3-month PPC; and # £102.50 for a 12-month PPC.

http://www.ppa.org.uk/ppa/ppc_intro.htm

This is something I didn't know about until Googling the issue just now, 
people on short-term IB have a free prescription threshold of £3.20 
above the applicable amount (the IS income limit).
http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/index/campaigns/campaign_success/free_prescriptions.htm

Lastly, it appears you can get free prescription if you live in Wales, 
though I haven't seen a .gov.uk or .nhs.uk site confirming this is in place:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/6513579.stm

anthonyberet wrote:

> This is something I didn't know about until Googling the issue just now, 
> people on short-term IB have a free prescription threshold of £3.20 
> above the applicable amount (the IS income limit).
> http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/index/campaigns/campaign_success/free_prescriptions.htm 

The calculation at one time used to be means tested (IS etc) rate plus 
cost of one prescription. If income was below that then the person 
received full help. It must have changed in recent years.

> Lastly, it appears you can get free prescription if you live in Wales, 
> though I haven't seen a .gov.uk or .nhs.uk site confirming this is in 
> place:
> http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/6513579.stm

Yup, free in Wales and (I believe) reduced in Scotland with the ultimate 
goal of being free there too.

Robbie wrote:
> anthonyberet wrote:
>
>> This is something I didn't know about until Googling the issue just
>> now,
>> people on short-term IB have a free prescription threshold of £3.20
>> above the applicable amount (the IS income limit).
>>
http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/index/campaigns/campaign_success/free_prescriptions.htm
>
> The calculation at one time used to be means tested (IS etc) rate plus
> cost of one prescription. If income was below that then the person
> received full help. It must have changed in recent years.
>
>> Lastly, it appears you can get free prescription if you live in
>> Wales,
>> though I haven't seen a .gov.uk or .nhs.uk site confirming this is in
>> place:
>> http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/6513579.stm
>
> Yup, free in Wales and (I believe) reduced in Scotland with the
> ultimate
> goal of being free there too.

Thanks Robbie and Anthony for yor replies.

In my initial panic, I didn't discover there was another page in the
envelope which explained how they worked out my entitlement. The summary of
it, is that my income is 3.90 GBP over the limit to get free prescriptions.
They didn't provide any explanation on my previous successful claims, so I
suppose I made erroneous assumptions, that I would automatically qualify, if
I were in receipt of the same set of income and the same set of outgoings.

I know they have to set the cut-off point somewhere, but it is hard lines if
you are just over the limit. I personally agree with the principle that
either prescription charges should be abolished altogether, or everyone
should pay a smaller sum. There could still be a safety net of means-tested
help for those requiring a large number of regular prescriptions, but the
present system is unfair. There are many people these days who reach the
magical age of 60, who are working, and could well afford to pay, and there
is the baffling small list of illnesses that automatically excempt from all
charges, when there are many other life-threatenening chronic illnesses such
as heart disease, asthma, which do not qualify.

Even when entitled to free medicine I have never abused the system. I have
always paid over the counter, for the occasional painkillers,
antihistamines, etc, and it really annoys me when I hear of people stocking
up on medicines and vitamins, then flogging 'em in car boot sales!

Anyhow. they didn't make it easy to discover, but the annual pre-payment
certificate is available  by direct debit, spread over 10 payments, which I
can just about manage. (I don't think it it was previously available in
installments, which is why I didn't go that route before) Yes it is cheaper,
but if you fall into the poverty trap, with insufficient savings to afford
the capital outlay, you are unable to benefit. I am not very numerate, which
is why I so often get in a panic about money. I will check the figures they
based my claim upon, in case I have "done myself", but it is likely that
they are right.

Thanks fellas. It helped to write to the group, when I couldldn't get hold
of anyone to help at the time.

Jennie