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Can you claim free NHS prescriptions?

Check if you're eligible

If you claim free NHS Prescriptions when you're not entitled, you could have to pay a penalty charge of up to £100.

Check before you tick

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What entitles you to free NHS prescriptions?

Your age

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

  • under 16
  • 16, 17 or 18 and in full-time education
  • 60 or over

Students aged 19 and over aren't automatically entitled to free NHS prescriptions, but can apply for help through the NHS Low Income Scheme (see page 4).

Certain benefits

Not all benefits entitle you to free NHS prescriptions. Check which type of benefit you get before you claim free NHS prescriptions.

You're entitled to free NHS prescriptions if you are named on an award for:

  • Income Support
  • income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
  • income-related Employment and Support Allowance
  • Pension Credit (Guarantee Credit) paid on its own, or PensionCredit (Guarantee Credit with Savings Credit)
  • certain Tax Credits - see page 4, under 'NHS Tax Credit Exemption Certificate
  • Universal Credit - but only if earnings in your last assessment period were £435 or less, or £935 or less if you get an element for a child or have limited capability for work
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You’re not automatically entitled to free NHS prescriptions if you are named on an award for:

  • contribution-based Jobseeker's Allowance, paid on its own
  • contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance, paid on its own
  • Pension Credit (Savings Credit), paid on its own
  • any benefit paid on its own and not listed in the green box opposite (such as State Pension, Disability Living Allowance, Personal Independence Payment or Incapacity Benefit)

Certificates

You may be entitled to an exemption certificate to claim free NHS prescriptions.

NHS maternity exemption certificate

If you're pregnant or have given birth in the last 12 months you can claim free NHS prescriptions if you have a valid maternity exemption certificate. Ask your doctor, midwife or health visitor to apply.

Learn more: nhsbsa.nhs.uk/matex

NHS medical exemption certificate

If you have a certain medical condition or physical disability, you can claim free NHS prescriptions if you have a valid medical exemption certificate. Ask your doctor how to apply.

Learn more: nhsbsa.nhs.uk/medex

NHS Tax Credit Exemption Certificate

You will automatically be sent this certificate if your annual family income used to work out your tax credits is £15,276 or less and you get:

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

Your partner and any young people included in your claim will be entitled to free NHS prescriptions while your certificate is valid.

Learn more: nhsbsa.nhs.uk/taxcredits

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HC2 certificate (full help with health costs)

If you're not automatically eligible for free NHS prescriptions, you can apply for help through the NHS Low Income Scheme.

If you have applied and been issued with an HC2 certificate you are entitled to free NHS prescriptions.

Your partner and any dependant children under 19 named on your claim will also be entitled to free NHS prescriptions while the certificate is valid. Make sure you know the expiry date of the certificate.

An HC3 certificate (partial help with health costs) does not entitle you to free NHS prescriptions.

Find out more and how to apply at nhsbsa.nhs.uk/hc1

War pensioners

If you have a valid War Pension or Armed Forces Compensation Scheme exemption certificate or a prescription exemption certificate issued by the Ministry of Defence, you are entitled to free NHS prescriptions that relate to your accepted disability.

To apply for a certificate, contact Veterans UK on 0808 1914 218.

NHS Prescription Prepayment Certificate (PPC)

If you pay for your NHS prescriptions, you could save money with a three or 12 month PPC. A PPC covers all your NHS prescriptions for a set price.

If you have a valid three or 12 month PPC you can claim free NHS prescriptions.

Learn more or buy a PPC: nhsbsa.nhs.uk/ppc

NHS Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) PPC

If you pay for NHS prescriptions for HRT, you could save money with an HRT PPC. An HRT PPC covers an unlimited number of listed HRT medicines for 12 months.

If you have a valid HRT PPC you can claim free HRT medications that are covered by the certificate.

Learn more or buy an HRT PPC: nhsbsa.nhs.uk/hrt-ppc

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What to do at the pharmacy

Before you claim free NHS prescriptions check that you're entitled at nhsbsa.nhs.uk/check

If you are not entitled to free NHS prescriptions

If you know that you're not entitled to free NHS prescriptions, or your exemption certificate, PPC or HRT PPC has expired, don't claim. Pharmacy staff will tell you how much you need to pay.

Not sure?

If you’re not sure whether you’re entitled to free NHS prescriptions (or you’re waiting to find out) you should pay and ask pharmacy staff for an NHS receipt and refund form (FP57).

If you find out later that you were entitled and have proof, you can apply for a refund within three months of paying the charge. The FP57 will tell you what to do.

If you are entitled to free NHS prescriptions

Make sure you tick the right box on the prescription.

If someone else collects the prescription on your behalf, make sure they know which box to tick.

If pharmacy staff ask for proof that you don't have to pay, show your benefit entitlement or award letter, or your exemption certificate.

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Free medications

These medications are free for everyone:

  • prescribed contraceptives
  • medicines supplied at an NHS clinic or hospital for the treatment of:
  • any medicine administered at an NHS hospital
  • a mental disorder (for people with a supervised community treatment order)
  • tuberculosis

Still not sure if you're allowed to claim free NHS prescriptions?

Use the NHS eligibility checker to find out if you're eligible for free NHS prescriptions and other help with health costs.

It usually takes three minutes to check.

Go to nhsbsa.nhs.uk/check

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i For more information

NHS Help with Health Costs - nhsbsa.nhs.uk/healthcosts

Contact us at nhsbsa.nhs.uk/contact-us

Medical and maternity exemption certificate nhsbsa.nhs.uk/matex nhsbsa.nhs.uk/medex 0300 330 1341 Prescription Prepayment Certificate nhsbsa.nhs.uk/ppc 0300 330 1341

Prescription Prepayment Certificate nhsbsa.nhs.uk/ppc 0300 330 1341

NHS Tax Credit Exemption Certificate nhsbsa.nhs.uk/taxcredits 0300 330 1347 HRT Prescription Prepayment Certificate nhsbsa.nhs.uk/hrt-ppc 0300 330 2089

HRT Prescription Prepayment Certificate nhsbsa.nhs.uk/hrt-ppc 0300 330 2089

NHS Low Income Scheme nhsbsa.nhs.uk/hc1 0300 330 1343

Benefits information

Contact us at nhsbsa.nhs.uk/contact-us

www.gov.uk/dwp

Pension Service helpline 0800 731 0469

Jobcentre Plus helpline

Jobseeker's Allowance, Income Universal Credit full service 0800 328 5644

Support and Employment and

Support Allowance

0800 169 0310

Jobcentre Plus helpline Universal Credit live service 0800 328 9344

Universal Credit full service 0800 328 5644

Tax Credits helpline

0345 300 3900

The information in this guide was correct as of November 2024. The latest version is available at nhsbsa.nhs.uk/freeprescriptions © Crown Copyright 2024 Produced by the NHS Business Services Authority

If you would like this information in a different format, please call 0300 330 9291.