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# Can you get free NHS prescriptions?

An easy read guide about who is allowed free NHS prescriptions.

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Check if you're eligible

Scan the QR code or go to

www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/check

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SCAN ME

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# What allows you to get free NHS prescriptions?

Your age

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• under 16

You can get free NHS prescriptions if you are:

- 16, 17, or 18 and in full-time education

• 60 or over

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Students who are 19 years old should check whether they are allowed free NHS prescriptions.

Students can apply for help through the NHS Low Income Scheme (see page 11).

## Some benefits

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Not all benefits mean you are allowed free NHS prescriptions.

Check which type of benefit you get before you claim.

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You are allowed free NHS prescriptions if you get:

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• Income Support

Jobs

• Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance

• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance

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Pension Credit (Guarantee Credit) paid on its own, or Pension Credit (Guarantee Credit with Savings Credit)

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• some Tax Credits (see page 9)

- Universal Credit if your earnings in your last assessment period were £435 or less, or £935 or less if you get money for a child, or have limited capability for work

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## These benefits do not give you free NHS prescriptions:

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- contribution-based

Jobseeker's Allowance, paid

on its own

Contribution-based benefits are benefits you have paid money towards through National Insurance.

• contribution-based

Employment and Support

Allowance, paid on its own

Most people pay National Insurance when they have a job.

Pension Credit (Savings Credit) paid on its own

Savings Credit is an extra payment for people who have saved some money for their pension.

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- any benefit paid on its own and not listed on the back of the prescription (such as State Pension, Disability Living Allowance, Personal Independence Payment, or Incapacity Benefit)

## Certificates

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

## NHS maternity exemption certificate

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If you are pregnant or have

given birth in the last 12

months you can get free NHS

prescriptions.

But you must have a maternity exemption certificate.

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Ask your midwife, doctor or health visitor to apply.

Learn more:

www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/matex

## NHS medical exemption certificate

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If you have a medical condition

or physical disability, you are

allowed free NHS prescriptions.

But you must have a medical exemption certificate.

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To find out if your condition or disability entitles you to a medical exemption certificate for free NHS prescriptions, check the list at:

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Or check with your doctor and ask them to apply.

## NHS Tax Credit Exemption Certificate

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

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• Child Tax Credit

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• Working Tax Credit including a disability element

• Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit paid together

HM Revenue & Customs

Tax credit award notice

You can normally find the annual family income used to work out your Tax Credits on your award notice.

Or, you can call the Tax Credits helpline to ask (see page 24).

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Your partner and any young people included in your claim for tax credits will be allowed free NHS prescriptions while the certificate is in date.

For more information go to: www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/taxcredits

## HC2 certificate

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NHS Low Income Scheme

You may be able to get free

NHS prescriptions and help with

other NHS charges through the

NHS Low Income Scheme.

If you have applied to the NHS

Low Income Scheme and have

been given an HC2 certificate

you are allowed free NHS

prescriptions.

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## Certificate runs out

Your partner and any dependant children under 19 named on your application will be allowed free NHS prescriptions while the certificate is in date.

Make sure you know what date the certificate runs out.

Having an HC3 certificate

(which gives some help

with health costs) does not

mean you can get free NHS

prescriptions.

For more information about how to apply, go to: www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/hc1

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## War pensioners

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If you have a War Pension or Armed Forces Compensation Scheme exemption certificate or a prescription exemption certificate issued by the Ministry of Defence, you can get free NHS prescriptions.

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But only if these prescriptions

are for medicine that helps

with your disability.

Veterans UK

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

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## NHS Prescription Prepayment Certificate

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If you pay for NHS prescriptions, you could save money with an NHS Prescription Prepayment Certificate.

This is sometimes called a PPC.

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A PPC lets you get as many NHS prescriptions as you need for one price.

3 months

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12 months

You can get a PPC for three months or a PPC for 12 months.



For more information go to www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/ppc

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Go to www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/ppc

How to buy a PPC:

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Call us on 0300 330 1341

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You can also buy PPCs over the counter at some pharmacies.

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## NHS Hormone Replacement Therapy Prescription Prepayment Certificate

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If you pay for hormone replacement therapy prescriptions, you could save money by buying an NHS Hormone Replacement Therapy Prescription Prepayment Certificate.

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This is sometimes called an HRT PPC.

An HRT PPC covers certain HRT medicines.

To find out what medicines are covered by the HRT PPC check the list at www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/hrt-ppc-medicines

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How to buy an HRT PPC:

Online: www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/hrt-ppc

At some pharmacies

If you need help call us on 0300 330 2089.

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## What to do at the pharmacy

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If you have an exemption

certificate always check the

date to see if you can still use it.

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If you claim for a benefit always check whether that benefit means you can get free NHS prescriptions.

## If you are not allowed free NHS prescriptions

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If you are not allowed free NHS prescriptions do not claim.

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If your exemption certificate is out of date do not claim.

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Pharmacy staff will tell you how much you need to pay.

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If you claim free NHS prescriptions when you are not allowed, you might have to pay a penalty charge up to £100.

## Not sure

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If you are not sure whether you are allowed free NHS prescriptions you should pay and ask the pharmacy staff for an NHS receipt and refund form.

This is also called an FP57.

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If you are waiting to find out whether you're allowed free NHS prescriptions you should also pay and get an FP57.

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If you find out later that you are allowed free NHS prescriptions and have proof you can get your money back.

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The FP57 will tell you what to do.

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If you are unsure about what

to do, ask the pharmacy staff to

help you.

## If you are allowed free NHS prescriptions

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Make sure you tick the right box on the prescription.

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If someone else collects the prescription for you, make sure they know which box to tick.

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If pharmacy staff ask for proof

that you don't have to pay, you

can show your:

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• benefit entitlement or award letter

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- exemption certificate

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## Free medications

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These medications are free for everyone:

• prescribed contraceptives

- medicines given at an NHS clinic or hospital for the treatment of a mental health problem for people with a supervised community treatment order

- medicines given at an NHS clinic or hospital for the treatment of Tuberculosis

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• any medicines given at an NHS hospital

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

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You can answer some questions

online to find out if you're

allowed free NHS prescriptions

and can get help with other

NHS charges.

It usually takes three minutes. Go to www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/check

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If you need support ask someone you trust to help you go online and get the information you need.

This could be a family member,

friend, or support worker.

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## For more information

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Contact us using our online form at www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/contact-us

Medical exemption certificate

www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/medex

0300 330 1341

Maternity exemption certificate

www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/matex

0300 330 1341

NHS Low Income Scheme

www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/hc1

0300 330 1343

NHS Tax Credit Exemption Certificate

www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/taxcredits

0300 330 1347

Prescription Prepayment Certificate (PPC)

www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/ppc

0300 330 1341

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) PPC

www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/hrt-ppc

0300 330 2089

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Benefits information

www.gov.uk/dwp

Pension Service helpline

0800 731 0469

Jobcentre Plus helpline

Jobseeker's Allowance, Income Support, and Employment and Support Allowance

0800 169 0310

Universal Credit live service

0800 328 9344

Universal Credit full service

0800 318 5644

Tax Credits helpline

0345 300 3900

The information in this easy read guide was correct as of November 2024. The latest version is available at www.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.