Rules on free prescriptions

Q . I have been claiming Contributions Based Employment and Support Allowance in the Work Related Activity Group for seven months and I have been paying a lot for my prescriptions. I understand people who claim Income Related Employment and Support Allowance get free prescriptions, but I don’t, even though I get no extra money than them. Is it fair I should pay for my prescriptions when I am getting the same money as someone on Income Related Employment and Support Allowance and gets them for free?

A . The reason for the distinction between Contributions Based Employment (CBE) and Support Allowance (SA) and Income Related Employment and Support Allowance (IRESA), is people on Income Related Employment and Support Allowance have already had to show they do not receive any money from anywhere else and have sufficiently low enough savings and / or capital to qualify for IRESA and subsequently free prescriptions; whereas people on (CBE) and (SA) would still receive the same rate of payment even if they have thousands in the bank or if they received occupational sick pay or similar income. As you have paid your National Insurance then you are entitled to (CBE) and (SA) without the ins and outs of your finances being checked; however, this does not mean that you aren’t entitled to free prescriptions, just that it isn’t automatic. As you are not on one of the benefits which give entitlement to free prescriptions automatically you would have to apply for free prescriptions using a HC1 form. You can pick up one of these forms from a GP, chemist or dentist or you can request one from the NHS on 0300 123 0849. The form will ask what income you are receiving as well as savings and / or capital you have. If your income is within the thresholds then you will be issued a HC2 card which qualifies you for free prescriptions and dental treatment. For higher incomes, it may be an HC3 card. Also, some medical conditions entitle people to free prescription, these include: permanent fistula form of hypoadrenalism (for example, Addison’s disease) for which specific substitution therapy is essential diabetes insipidus or other forms of hypopituitarism diabetes mellitus, except where treatment is by diet alone hypoparathyroidism myasthenia gravis myxoedema (hypothyroidism requiring thyroid hormone replacement) epilepsy requiring continuous anticonvulsive therapy a continuing physical disability that means the person can’t go out without the help of another person – temporary disabilities don’t count, even if they last for several months the effects of cancer the effects of current or previous cancer treatment For people whose income is too high to qualify and who don’t have a medical exemption, it may be cost effective to buy a pre-payment certificate at £29.10 for a threemonth card or £104 for an annual card.