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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.