Free prescriptions and dental treatment.
Help with glasses, wigs and fabric supports.
Fares to hospital for treatment.
You can get these:
- if you or your partner are on Income Support, Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, the Guarantee Credit of Pension Credit, or you qualify under the low income scheme (external site), or
- if your annual income is £15,276 (2009/10 figure) or less and you get Child Tax Credit only / Child Tax Credit plus Working Tax Credit / Working Tax Credit with a disability element
The rules for other people getting health benefits are complicated but you may also be eligible for some health benefits if you are:
- A child or full-time student under 19, studying up to A Level or on a BTEC course. You can get help with prescriptions, dental treatment, glasses, wigs and fabric support.
- Getting a War Disablement Pension and need the item or service because of your war disability.
- Living in a care home with funding from a local authority.
- An out-patient getting treatment at hospital.
- An asylum seekers or family supported by the National Asylum Support Service or the local authority.
- A 16 or 17 year old care leaver supported by the local authority.
- A 16 or 17 year old who is not studying - you can get free dental treatment.
- A pregnant woman or woman with a baby under one year old. You can get free prescriptions and dental treatment.
- Aged 60 or over. You can get free prescriptions and sight tests.
- Someone who has one of a list of medical conditions, like a physical condition which means that you need help to get out, or epilepsy which needs continuous treatment.
- Someone who needs complex lenses. You can get help with glasses.
Free milk tokens and vitamins, reduced cost dried milk and the Healthy Start changes
Find out more in Benefits timetable if you are having a baby. Disabled children aged 5 to16 who cannot go to school also get free milk. You do not need to get benefits to qualify. Claim on form FW20 from:
Disability Benefits Unit
Room A112
Lobby D
Warbreck House
Warbreck Hill Road
Blackpool
FY2 0YE
Information on other websites
Department of Health
Includes links to the form HC11: Help with health costs, plus a version for students, written with the National Union of Students, and one about tax credits and health benefits
Business Services NHS Authority
Information on help with health costs, including the roles of tax credits, Pre-Payment Certificates, online forms for the Low Income Scheme, Medical Exemption Certificates (Medex) and Maternity Exemption Certificates (Matex).
Adviceguide
Information from Citizen's Advice about help with health costs.
Age Concern
Information about help with health costs for older people.
Need more help? Live in Manchester? Send us an email
Information Provider:
Manchester Advice
Date Reviewed:
22 June 2009
This information is for guidance only and is not an authoritative statement on the law. Please read our Terms and Conditions.
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